National funding agency supports VIU researcher

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has awarded just over $46,000 to Vancouver Island University Biology professor David Gaumont-Guay to support research into the benefits of green roofs in BC.

The funds will be used to purchase an integrated environmental monitoring station associated with the installation of an experimental green roof system in the City of Nanaimo. The green roof will be installed on the property of Island West Coast Development (IWCD) as part of the construction of their new office building.

“The roof will consist of a growing medium (soil mix) planted with endemic plant species of central Vancouver Island,” explained Gaumont-Guay. “The infrastructure will be installed permanently over the conventional roof structure. During the next three years, we’ll investigate the performance of the green roof with respect to its ability to store carbon (sequestration), to modify roof microclimate and thermal insulation, and to provide better management of storm and rain water.”

Green roofs have an immense potential for offsetting carbon emissions originating from building operations, said Gaumont-Guay, but this information is currently unavailable. The need for research has been highlighted recently through a series of meetings between IWCD, building and landscape architects, academic members of the Vancouver Island University community and the City of Nanaimo.

“This type research has not been attempted before,” he said. “Although industries are currently able to calculate their carbon emission rates related to building operations, ways to calculate their carbon offset potentials are limited.”

The research could help in development of policies for land-use planning at municipal, provincial and national levels. It also has the potential to lead to changes in the LEED certification program. The project will also serve as an education platform for industries and municipalities, as well as students, technicians, researchers, and private and public sector employees.

Gaumont-Guay said the project represents a unique opportunity “for industry, IWCD, the City of Nanaimo, provincial and federal governments and Vancouver Island University to work together to understand the greenhouse gas budget of Canada.

“Solutions to climate change often originate from small scale community initiatives. This project is an excellent example of local scale action that can provide valuable information. Any reduction in greenhouse gas emission or increase in carbon sequestration (storage) is good for the environment.”

Utilizing plants on specially designed green roofs to enhance carbon sequestration in the heart of a community, where many emissions are produced, is a logical step in moving towards carbon neutral communities, he added.

“I’m very pleased about this latest support from the CFI for Vancouver Island University,” said President Dr. Ralph Nilson. “This industry-academic-government partnership represents a unique opportunity to develop initiatives aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of urban development.”

“The Federal Government is pleased to support innovative research that explores new models of sustainable development,” added Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni. “It is great to see VIU and Dr. David Gaumont-Guay driving that quest for knowledge.”

The CFI continues to support cutting-edge research infrastructure that helps stimulate various sectors of our economy associated with such capital projects.  It is estimated that every dollar invested directly in research yields over $7 in economic benefits including spin off jobs.

The CFI announced a total of $26,712,283 in new funds to support 117 projects at 29 institutions across Canada, including VIU.

A total of $20.5-million was awarded under the Leaders Opportunity Fund, which provides infrastructure support to Canadian institutions so they can attract and retain the very best of today and tomorrow’s leading researchers at a time of intense international competition for knowledge workers. The remaining $6.1-million was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, a complementary program that assists research institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with new infrastructure projects.

“These investments will further enhance our country’s reputation as a destination of choice for outstanding researchers,” said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. “They will make our universities even more competitive when it comes to attracting the best and brightest researchers from around the world.”

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For a complete list of theprojects awarded, please visit www.innovation.ca.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI’s mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed almost $4.5 billion in support of more than 6,000 projects at 129 institutions in 64 municipalities across Canada.