Enermodal Engineering was founded in 1980 by University of Waterloo MA.Sc graduate, Stephen Carpenter. He chose to locate Enermodal in Waterloo Region to make use of the technological resources of the “Tech Triangle” and the talent of graduates the region’s universities and college. As a firm interested in pushing its industry forward and creating innovative building systems, Enermodal saw the value of locating in a progressive, fast-growing, and technically-savvy community.

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Enermodal Engineering is Canada’s largest consulting firm exclusively dedicated to green buildings and communities. With a professional staff of 100 green building specialists, Enermodal is working on sustainability projects worth over $5 billion. For over 30 years, Enermodal has been an industry leader, pioneering some of the most innovative yet practical green building technologies including rainwater cisterns, onsite biofiltration, radiant cooling, building renewable energy systems, and variable flow refrigerant systems.

Enermodal’s services include LEED Design and Certification, Energy Modelling, Mechanical/Electrical Design, Community Master Planning, Building Commissioning, Green Education Program Development, Energy Measurement & Verification, Renewable Energy Research & Design, Greening Existing Buildings & Operations, and Window Rating.

Enermodal has worked on green projects in 22 countries and is Canada’s foremost LEED consulting firm, delivering the LEED 2009 Rating System, employees serving as LEED Faculty members, and President Stephen Carpenter appointed chair of the Technical Advisory Committee. This first-hand knowledge of LEED is an important contributor to Enermodal’s record-breaking 250 LEED® projects across North America. Additionally, Enermodal is responsible for 40% of LEED Canada NC certified buildings.

Enermodal has provided LEED services for Canada’s premier green buildings including the Toronto Region Conservation Authority’s Restoration Services Centre (first Platinum certification in Ontario), Fifth Town Cheese (first Platinum industrial certification), and the Bay Adelaide (largest LEED certified building in Canada). Enermodal designed its new headquarters, A Grander View, to achieve three LEED Platinum certifications and is Canada’s most energy-efficient office (using 82% less energy than a conventional office).

The team is strongly based on individuals hired from Waterloo Region’s talent pool. One of the reasons Enermodal’s headquarters is in Kitchener is to take advantage of the superior engineering graduates available at the UW. Enermodal has hired several individuals from Waterloo Region Employee Immigration Network networking events in the past several years. Enermodal was named a Best Practices Employer of Choice by WRIEN. Enermodal has a unique, employee-and-sustainability-centred mission to save the world energy by creating better buildings, have fun doing it, and make enough money to continue to do one and two.

This mission transfers into Enermodal’s work environment. The Employee Sustainability Committee meets monthly to make recommendations to management on how to make the office greener and more “fun.” This has resulted in Enermodal’s employee green incentives – some of the most progressive in the world – where employees receive $3,000 towards the purchase of a hybrid vehicle, 60% off transit passes, on-site employee garden plots, and free rain barrels, low-flow shower heads, and compost bins. Enermodal’s own offices have achieved or are candidates for LEED Platinum certification.

Enermodal encourages innovation amongst its employees in their work. Employees deliver projects in multi-disciplinary internal teams designed to make use of different talents and ideas. For the design of its new office (the most energy-efficient office in Canada), A Grander View, Enermodal chose an entirely local design and construction team, including Robertson Simmons architects inc. and Melloul Blamey Construction. Enermodal felt this local project team had the expertise and commitment to sustainable principles that was required for this high performance building.

Enermodal’s ability to provide innovative ways to decrease environmental footprint of their building projects is the key to its success. Those innovative solutions are created through the hands-on and technical knowledge of its employees.

Why Waterloo Region?
“I chose to operate Enermodal in Waterloo Region to make use the exceptional talent pool provided by the University of Waterloo’s Engineering program, of which I was a graduate. This region is known for its technological innovation so it only made sense for a firm looking to move the building design and energy efficiency industry forward to locate here.” - Stephen Carpenter, President, Enermodal Engineering

Recent Recognition

• Exceptional Service Award, Canada Green Building Council
• 150 Fastest Growing Architecture Engineering Firms in North America, ZweigWhite HotFirm List
• Canada’s 50 Greenest Employers
• Waterloo Region’s Healthy Workplace Gold

Sources

• Interview Enermodal Staff | 2010
• www.enermodal.com