Héma-Québec obtains LEED® Gold certification for renovations to part of its Saint-Laurent facilities

Montréal, November 15, 2012 – The Canada Green Building Council has awarded Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) to Héma-Québec for renovations to the interior of 4300 Garand Street, one of the buildings that make up Héma-Québec’s Montréal facilities.

 

In 2010, Héma-Québec carried out major renovations in a section of its facilities located in the Montréal borough of Saint-Laurent. As part of this initiative, it embraced the principles of sustainable building design, construction and operation. These eco-friendly practices were consistent with the numerous requirements of the LEED® program in terms of sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

 

“This LEED® certification recognizes Héma-Québec’s efforts to meet and exceed the highest standards at all levels of our operations and speaks to our commitment to improving our performance on an ongoing basis, whether it involves supplying blood products or environmental management,” said Yvan Charbonneau, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Héma-Québec. The organization has adopted a sustainable development action plan that addresses a series of objectives set forth by the government, including one aimed at promoting reduction in the amount of energy, natural resources and materials used to produce and market goods and services.

 

This objective has largely been achieved, especially from the perspective of energy consumption. Some 94% of the new computer equipment acquired as part of this undertaking is Energy Star-certified, and 93% of the waste generated by the renovations—214 tonnes in total—has been recycled or otherwise diverted from landfills. Furthermore, the newly renovated premises will consume 45% less water.

 

“We are proud to be reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to improving employee wellness by offering a better work environment,” Mr. Charbonneau added. Other initiatives include increased natural light and an automated ventilation and lighting system that affords greater comfort to building occupants. Incentives designed to encourage carpooling or the use of public transportation are also helping Héma-Québec deliver on its pledge to be an environmentally conscious and responsible employer.

 

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED® is an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. There are four possible levels of LEED® certification (certified, silver, gold and platinum), based on the total point score achieved in five separate categories.

 

Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes, human tissues and cord blood to meet the needs of all Quebecers; to provide and develop expertise along with specialized and innovative services and products in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

 

Héma-Québec encompasses 1,300 employees, some 3,000 blood drives and more than 160,000 blood donors every year, 16,000 volunteers and more than 500,000 blood products delivered annually to Québec hospitals to meet the needs of patients.

 

 

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