In May 2011, Gatineau inaugurated fire station number 5 (Aldoria-Dumulong), its first municipal building awaiting LEED certification.

LEED certification is given to buildings that have shown a commitment to sustainability by meeting the highest performance standards. LEED buildings help reduce the environmental footprint of development projects.

The following six main elements are considered in the LEED philosophy:

1. Ecological layout of the site
2. Effective management of water, energy and air
3. Materials and resources
4. Quality of the interior environments
5. Innovation
6. The design process

Technical LEED characteristics of fire station number 5 (Aldoria-Dumulong)

• Certification requires a 42% energy saving. A simulation for fire station number 5 indicated a 48% energy saving compared to the reference building under the Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 1997.
• Fire station number 5 uses geothermal engineering for 75% of the heating and 100% of the air conditioning. Ten wells were dug to a depth of 150 metres. The system is supplemented by a high-efficiency gas furnace.
• Radiant heating is used in the garage as well as for de-icing the trucks. Pipes filled with glycol capture the heat from the ground in the geothermal wells and bring it back up to the surface, and then run it through pipes that heat the garage's cement slab.
• A black metal solar wall captures the heat of the sun, which is used to pre-heat the cool air, which is then pumped into the building, while a heat exchanger recovers heat from the stale air and pre-heats the cool air.
• The landscaping around fire station number 5 will not require any water.
• A rainwater management system has been installed to collect water during heavy rainfalls and thereby reduce any overload. This system will allow for gradual runoff in the municipal system, reducing the risk of overflow.

About the fire station

This 3,000 square metre fire station is a workplace that is adapted to the latest fire prevention technologies through infrastructures that will meet the special needs of the different activity sectors of the Service de sécurité incendie.

Bringing together the technical, training, prevention, education and investigation sections will help increase the effectiveness of the firefighters and improve services to residents.