With concern growing in regards to global warming and the depletion of the Earth's resources, a new focus on environmental sustainability has arisen throughout the world. Continued technological advancements and population growth are resulting in more of a strain on our fragile planet. The results of anthropogenic activities are becoming more evident as resources are being depleted and the requirements for energy are ever increasing. Although the Department of National Defence (DND) is making great efforts to operate in a sustainable manner, meeting requirements of the 2006 DND Sustainable Development Strategy, and achieving accreditation within Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) (or other green building systems) has proven to be impossible due to the nature of Canadian Forces (CF) operations; both domestically and overseas. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the guidance provided to the CF on the implementation of appropriate green building / sustainable development strategies for new construction and large renovation projects (to include arctic regions). This investigation will outline the challenges of achieving current mainstream green building accreditations (i.e., LEED) due to the unique environments within the CF. These challenges require solutions which are specifically designed for implementation within the CF, and not simply solutions which have been "imported" from similar industries. As such, a proposed DND Sustainability Standard is outlined to assist the CF in achieving the objectives of green building initiatives, such as increased efficiency of new buildings, without compromising the ability of the DND/CF to carry out regular activities. Detailed design and implementation of appropriate solutions requires a deep understanding of the intricacies of the unique requirements of CF establishments. The focus of this research is on current green building techniques and technologies which are most applicable to the DND, and to outline the limitations of LEED criteria. Case studies are provided to highlight the practical implementation of the various concepts and strategies. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide the DND with its own, unique sustainability Green Building rating system, one that is more representative of the type of infrastructure the DND owns and operates.
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