Canadian universities are looking to green architecture and its accompanying technology to help them save energy and water. A growing number qualify for so-called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status, a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and adapted by the Canada Green Building Council. Others have won environmental, architectural or design awards. Here are examples of how some universities are greening their campuses:

UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO, GRAND HOUSE STUDENT CO-OPERATIVE

ARCHITECT: Waterloo students

Conceived by architecture students in 2005 as an affordable housing option for students, the 10-bedroom residence nestled

on a wooded hillside in Cambridge was built with straw-bale construction, recycled

wood, non-toxic paint, solar panels, a green roof and a wastewater and grey water filtration and recycling system.

YORK UNIVERSITY, COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING BUILDING

2002 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Governor-General's Medal

ARCHITECT: Busby, Perkins and Will Architects, architectsAlliance

Built in 2001, the first green-designated building in Ontario has passive ventilation, recyclable energy materials, sun shading and other attributes that reduce energy consumption by 50% compared with conventional equivalents.

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING

Designated LEED Gold, 2007

ARCHITECT: Bunting Coady Architects, Diamond & Schmitt Architects

The first building at a Canadian university to win Gold certification, the building consumes 28% less energy and 50% less water than a standard building. Photoelectric sensors adjust interior lighting based on the amount of natural light from windows and atrium skylights.

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Designated LEED Platinum, 2007

ARCHITECT: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

Conservation measures reduced energy use by 53% compared with conventional buildings. The largest LEED Platinum building in this country, it's among the first built in Canada for cold-weather conditions.

LAVAL UNIVERSITY, GENE-H.-KRUGER PAVILION

Quebec City Award of Architectural Merit, 2006

ARCHITECT: Gallienne et Moisan

Built of wood with non-polluting and non-toxic renewable materials, the building houses the Wood Research Centre, which aims to demonstrate the diversity of applications for wood. Situated to maximize light and natural ventilation, the building is fitted with solar collector walls and skylights.

ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE DE MONTRÉAL, PAVILLONS LASSONDE

Designated LEED Gold, 2005

ARCHITECT: Desnoyers Mercure et associes, Saia et Barbarese architectes

The first large-scale green design and construction of a major building at a

Quebec university, it has a green roof that absorbs storm water and reflects heat

in summer, and toilets that use rainwater for flushing and reduce reliance on municipal water for sewage by 92%.