The Government of Saskatchewan received the highest number of environmental certifications and awards from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) in its portfolio history this year, after 12 government buildings scored highly on a third-party audit.
The certifications were announced by the Government of Saskatchewan on Nov. 7.
Earlier, the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw Campus was awarded with a BOMA Gold certification at the BOMA Saskatchewan 35th Annual Awards Gala on May 17.
In Moose Jaw, the Sask. Polytechnic Campus scored 84.8 points out of a possible 100, earning the building a BOMA Gold certification. This adds to the government’s total of 12 BOMA certifications earned in 2023, including one platinum, nine other gold, and one silver certification. To earn gold, the building must score between 80 and 89 per cent on its assessment.
Previously, the campus building was BOMA Silver certified. To achieve the loftier gold certification, the campus building underwent third-party audits to assess energy and water use, waste, air quality, and radon levels on the property.
These assessments then reviewed the building’s ventilation and air quality, cleaning products used, custodial practices, and tenant (student and faculty) satisfaction.
A few minor upgrades made to the building include LED lighting and a new building management system for parts of the campus, according to the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement.
During the process, the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement works with the third-party verifier to answer questions such as energy and water use within the building, and the audit uses the verifier’s questionnaires and survey-based assessments.
As part of the ministry’s responsibilities, certifications are earned after it works to recognize gaps and opportunities for ways to improve buildings, by adding preventative maintenance items to the building operator’s annual checklists, and by implementing newly revised policies and programs. This process also includes the addition of further testing programs for the building in question.
These environmental certifications are a step forward in the Government of Saskatchewan’s ‘Prairie Resilience: A Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy.’
The government’s strategy involves a system-wide approach involving more than 40 commitments, which are designed to increase the provinces’ resistance to the projected effects of climate change.
These commitments go beyond the reduction of emissions and involve Saskatchewan’s natural systems and resources, infrastructure for electricity, transportation, homes, buildings, and community preparedness for any negative consequences resulting from a changing climate.
BOMA BEST (Building Environmental Standards) is Canada’s largest environmental assessment program and recognizes environmentally responsible handling of energy and water use, air quality, tenant comfort and wellness, custodial upkeep, waste management, and other measures in existing buildings across Canada.
The program gives owners and building managers a consistent framework to assess and report on the smart and sustainable performance and management of all types and sizes of buildings.
“We are pleased to have a record number of Government of Saskatchewan buildings receive this important environmental certification in our provinces’ history,” said SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister Joe Hargrave in an official statement.
“This speaks to the progress being made under the provinces’ Prairie Resilience Climate Strategy and our growth plan goals for 2023,” he added.
For a list of all 12 BOMA BEST certifications earned in 2023, visit Saskatchewan.ca and look for ‘News and Media’ under the ‘Government’ drop-down menu.
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