Green building engineer named to Order of Canada
January 7, 2014
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng., one of the best-known green building engineers in Canada, was named a Member of the Order of Canada on December 30. Carpenter was one of 61 people appointed to the title that day by Governor General David Johnston....
Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng., one of the best-known green building engineers in Canada, was named a Member of the Order of Canada on December 30. Carpenter was one of 61 people appointed to the title that day by Governor General David Johnston. The Order is one of the country’s highest civilian honours and since it was inaugurated in 1967, 116 engineers have been named to its ranks.
Carpenter was recognized for “his visionary leadership in the development and stewardship of Canada’s green building industry.”
Raised in Ottawa, he attended the University of Waterloo (B.A.Sc ’78, M.A.Sc ’80), studying mechanical engineering. He went on to become one of the early pioneers of green building in Canada, establishing Enermodal Engineering in Waterloo in 1981 to specialize in energy efficient building design. Initially the company concentrated on developing Canada’s first energy modelling software, then in 1992 it built the Waterloo Region Green Home which used 75% less energy and water than a conventional Canadian home.
Led by Carpenter, Enermodal went on to help design many green buildings, including 23 of the first 25 LEED NC certified buildings in Ontario. It pioneered green technologies such as rainwater cisterns, on-site biofiltration, variable flow refrigerant systems and renewable energy systems. The company’s own headquarters, the Green on the Grand building and A Grander View, are both extremely energy efficient and sustainable, the latter having won the Canadian Consulting Engineering Tree for Life Award in 2011.
Carpenter was instrumental in creating the Canadian version of the LEED rating system, and was co-author of the LEED Canada manual. He won CaGBC’s first Exceptional Service Award in 2010 and is a LEED Fellow. He also teaches sustainable design to professionals.
According to Enermodal’s staff, Carpenter’s style of corporate leadership is marked by “wise guidance, natural unselfishness, humble demeanor, compassionate decisions, even temper, and a propensity to lead by example.” The corporate culture was recognized by the Globe and Mail as one of the “Great Places to Work.”
Enermodal now has 120 staff. In 2010 it joined MMM Group, serving as the company’s building sustainability experts within the firm. Carpenter retired from his position within MMM Group late last year.
In Canadian Consulting Engineer’s December 2012 issue, Stephen Carpenter was featured as one of “Seven Inspiring Engineers.” Click here.
