Gordon kirkwood is confident there’s plenty of green to be made by going green.

The CEO of Winnipeg-based Entegra Credit Union is overseeing the construction of a new branch just north of downtown Winnipeg, a 6,100-square-foot location that he says will be the first financial services outlet in the country to be certified as an environment-friendly building.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he says. “We want to create the best and healthiest work environment for our staff and our members. First and foremost, we want to be environmentally responsible and, in the long run, we hope to save on energy costs.”

In December, when its first customer walks through the door of what will be Entegra’s third branch, the building will have Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, the designation for a green building.

Some of its features will include: aerators in all taps to reduce water flow and sensors to ensure water is not running unless needed; geothermal heating and cooling; low-flush toilets; and sensors that allow lights to come on only when rooms are in use and outside light is insufficient. As well, 75% of waste materials from the construction site will be either reused or recycled, and 8% of the building’s materials contain recycled materials.

Kirkwood says the $2-million branch will cost about $200,000 more than a traditional building, but he considers it a good investment.

“We struggled at the board level [with the decision]. We have to be reasonable with our members’ money. Could that $200,000 be put to better use or is this the right place? In the end, we felt it was,” he says.

“Financial institutions are thought to be only in the business of making money. This is a good example of the credit union difference. It’s not all about profits. It’s about people and our community.”

One of the unseen benefits will be cleaner, fresher air circulating throughout the building, something Kirkwood says will result in healthier employees taking fewer sick days and working more productively and efficiently.

He notes 75% of the space will have access to natural light, which will save on energy costs and improve the office’s ambiance.

“The mood of an employee in the basement with no windows is a lot different from that of somebody who has a nice, sunny office space,” he says.

Bob Lafond, a spokesman for the Credit Union Central of Manitoba, says Entegra’s action is in keeping with the credit union’s responsibility to be a good corporate citizen and neighbour.

“We believe, as a co-operative, that what is good for the community is good for us. It drives good business principles,” he says.

Other financial institutions around the country may follow in Entegra’s footsteps, he adds. “Each organization will have to look at it from its own perspective, but being power smart and being green makes sense. We all do it in our homes, we control the thermostat.
It’s an extension of being smart with your money.”

Rick Linley, chief operating officer at Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Inc., says green buildings are becoming a trend in Winnipeg and across North America.

“I think the corporate world has been encouraged to become part of the solution on environmental issues. Getting a LEED certification on your building is a third-party reference that you are actually green as opposed to just saying you are,” he says.

In addition to cost savings, having a LEED-certified building also becomes a marketing tool.

“It tells your customers you care about the environment. More and more people are of that mind-set and they’re interested in seeing the institutions they deal with have a green conscience,” he says.

Kirkwood says the credit union’s green approach goes beyond the bricks and mortar.

“We will take steps to educate our staff and members about the sustainable qualities of this building and we will also encourage them to do things within their own lives to be environmentally responsible,” he says.

Holy Spirit Credit Union originated 45 years ago in the basement of the Holy Ghost
Church on Winnipeg’s Selkirk Ave. It changed its name to Entegra 18 months ago to reflect its increasingly diverse membership. IE