As an Indigenous organization the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre tries to always consider the environmental impact of everything we do, and to treat Mother Earth with kindness, as much as possible.
Suswin Village has a number of considerations to increase its environmental savings and reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible over the long term.
Transportation and Transit: The building is situated downtown close to amenities on a transit route (and not out on the edge of town) thus saving energy and eliminating the travel time and distance challenges people in West Ferris and Native People of Nipissing experience. It is right across from the Friendship Centre this saving travel time and fuel for individuals to access programming and do personal shopping, go to appointments, etc.
Sustainable Building Design
- Heavily insulated floor and foundations
- Energy efficient lighting thought the building and parking lot
- Water saving devices throughout
- Energy efficient windows
- Heavily insulated walls and roof
- Natural light in all rooms
- Energy efficient hot water heating
Energy Saving
- Geothermal heating and cooling
- Solar access – large, south facing windows allow sunlight to penetrate well into the building and heat the units and ground floor common room
- Natural landscaping to provide shade in the summer
- Roof has been designed to accommodate future solar panels
