The AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex in Ottawa, the first ice rink to earn the CABGC’s zero-carbon certification. (Google Maps)

The AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex, a privately operated arena and training complex in the south end of Ottawa, has become the first such facility to achieve the zero-carbon building performance standard.

The project, which was completed by Modern Niagara, achieved the certification from the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Program in December. Modern Niagara is a national mechanical and electrical, building services, and integrated building technology contractor with offices across Canada, including Ottawa.

“Buildings account for a significant portion of carbon emissions – we believe that what we have accomplished at AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex represents a step in the right direction towards building a more sustainable future,” said Brad McAninch, the CEO of Modern Niagara Group Inc., in the announcement.

“While converting AMPED into the world’s first arena to achieve the zero-carbon building performance standard certification did not come without challenges, I see this achievement as a great opportunity for Canada’s infrastructure more generally.”

About the AMPED Sports Lab project

The facility, located at 2600 Leitrim Rd., in the Gloucester neighbourhood, is centred around a 120×65-foot indoor ice rink which is utilized by many area hockey and sports organizations for training purposes. The two-level building also includes physio and rehab facilities and hi-tech training areas and tools which are utilized by athletes from many other sports as well as hockey.

The facility opened in 2015 and was purpose-built to house the sports training business. It includes a main floor as well as second-storey facilities.

Amped is operated by Jordan Burgess and Andrew Creese.

The zero-carbon project focused on energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures within the building and its operations.

The systems reduce operational carbon and overall energy consumption by optimizing facility operation through intelligent building automation and on-site renewable energy generation. The project also included replacing all fossil fuel-consuming equipment on the site, such as gas-fired rooftop units, hot water heaters, and the ice rink dehumidifier.

The (CaGBC) is a non-profit national organization which has worked to advance green and sustainable building practices in Canada since 2002. A member of the World Green Building Council, CaGBC recognizes organizations and individuals for their leadership in reducing the environmental impact of the built environment.

Through the ZCB standard – performance certification, the CaGBC recognizes highly energy-efficient buildings that produce onsite or procure carbon-free renewable energy or high-quality carbon offsets to offset the annual carbon emissions associated with building materials and operations.