Project summary
•	Location: Yellowknife, Canada
•	Application: Federal government offices
•	Concept: highly insulating, easy installation Pv curtainwall (by visionwall
•	Wall / Pv area: 800 m2 / 300 m2
•	Annual output: 21,1 MWh
•	CO2 abatement: 29 tonnes pa (includes thermal benefits)
•	Information: Amike Lubun or Josef ayoub, E-mail: mlubun@nrcan.gc.ca or josef.ayoub@nrcan.gc.ca

The Canadian government is leading by example with a new building for 200 public service employees that incorporates the most advanced building-integrated PV installation north of latitude 60.

Working in partnership with industry, the Government designed the building to be an environmental showpiece for the North. The 7 200 m2 four-storey ‘Greenstone’ building incorporates innovative energy conservation measures and also meets five percent of its electrical needs through onsite solar generation. A 33,5 kW PV array is built into a high performance, south-facing concave glass curtain wall. The PV laminates are integrated into modular frames of energy efficient glazing systems. These combine two optically clear films, internally suspended between two layers of glass to create three insulating air spaces. The solar cells are laminated between two sheets of glass and form the exterior side of the PV glazing units. This construction gives excellent thermal insulation (R-value ˜H8). The wiring is incorporated in the frame of the glazing units, allowing easy ‘snap-fit’ installation.

The building is scheduled to become the first ‘North of 60’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified project. The LEED standard, originally developed in the USA and recently adopted in Canada, provides an effective and consistent framework for gauging sustainable building design.

[ Top ] [ Previous article in PV Power ] [ Next article in PV Power ]