Sustainability

Beyond Great

Award Magazine, December 2022, Natalie Bruckner Specialists in green building design are coming up with solutions for every eventuality. Green building design is hardly a new concept, and yet its meaning has changed dramatically over the past four decades, and even more so over the past few years. At one time it was a reference …

Beyond Great Read More »

Using Energy Models to Design Efficient Mechanical Systems

By: Stan Poznekoff, AScT, LEED AP The mechanical system in any building is one of the most impactful components of a building’s energy consumption and overall building energy performance. As we shift our perspectives to consider more sustainable and environmentally responsible approaches to building design, mechanical engineers have had to adapt to evolving energy targets …

Using Energy Models to Design Efficient Mechanical Systems Read More »

How Building Envelope Design Impacts Energy Consumption

By: Hillary Davidson, P.Eng. The building envelope significantly affects the energy consumption, efficiency, and overall performance of a building. The building envelope separates the exterior, variable environment from the interior, and controlled environment and includes components such as the walls, roof, windows and doors. Careful consideration of the building envelope design must be made to …

How Building Envelope Design Impacts Energy Consumption Read More »

How Solar Panels Impact the Structure of a Building

By: Alexandra Adolph, P.Eng. As the demand for renewable energy continues to increase, consultants have seen a steady rise in solar panel installations for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Increased interest in sustainable building design, high operating costs, and awareness of climate change have resulted in property owners considering solar energy for new and existing …

How Solar Panels Impact the Structure of a Building Read More »

Sustainability Scholar’s Program Report

This summer, Williams Group had partnered with the Sustainability Scholar’s Program to research how Edmonton can become a Smart City by maximizing the potential of IoT in our physical infrastructure. Williams Engineering Canada and its sister company, DB Technologies, collaborated on a project titled “Paving the way for a Smarter Edmonton: Transforming into a Smart City by Connecting Buildings …

Sustainability Scholar’s Program Report Read More »

Managing Your Building’s Energy With Benchmarking

By: Lindsay Austrom, P.Eng., CEM, LEED® AP BD+C In North America, a building’s energy consumption accounts for nearly a third of operating costs – it’s widely known that inefficient buildings waste millions of dollars a year. Energy benchmarking, then, is a valuable tool not only for reducing carbon footprints but also for decreasing utility expenses. …

Managing Your Building’s Energy With Benchmarking Read More »

Mind Your Footprint – Sustainable Design

Award Magazine, July 2018, by Natalie Bruckner-Menchelli Sustainable design used to be a buzzword, now it’s almost a byword in the building industry. This concept no longer solely encompasses environmental sustainability, but also social issues, human health, and advances in technology. Over the past year there have been dramatic changes within the sector, influenced largely …

Mind Your Footprint – Sustainable Design Read More »

Passive House & Mechanical Systems

Award Magazine, August 2017, by Natalie Bruckner-Menchelli It has been well documented that mechanical systems providing indoor environmental control and domestic hot water functions generally represent the largest consumer of energy in Canadian high-rise multi-unit residential buildings. However, as government, owners and end users shine a spotlight on the sector, leaders in the field have …

Passive House & Mechanical Systems Read More »