Empowering community through sustainable design:

The JACBA Centre of Excellence

Nova Scotia

The Jordantown-Acaciaville-Conway Betterment Association (JACBA)

Centre of Excellence is a vibrant new community hub located in Digby,

Nova Scotia. Spanning just over 1,000 m², the facility of fers dedicated

spaces for seniors, youth programming, and childcare. It also features

a community room that can host up to 200 people, along with a fully

equipped commercial-grade kitchen — making it a true anchor for local

gatherings and events.

Englobe’s Mechanical and Electrical team was retained as part of the

design-build team with Avondale Construction for the design of the

new community centre. Mechanical design work included preparing

the construction drawing package for plumbing, drainage, ventilation,

heating and controls design for the facility along with preparing the

energy model and report to achieve the zero-carbon building version 2

certif ication. Electrical design work included preparing the Construction

drawing package for lighting, communication, access control, f ire

protection, power and the solar PV systems for the facility. M&E was also

retained during construction to conduct site inspections, approve shop

drawings, respond to contractor requests for information and issuing

site instructions.

Built with a strong commitment to sustainability, the Centre meets

Option 1 of Version 2 of the Zero Carbon Building Standard. This includes

surpassing the 2017 National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) by 25%

in energy ef f iciency and maintaining a Thermal Energy Demand Intensity

(TEDI) of less than 34 kWh/m². Other key ef f iciency features include

high-performance insulation with thermal breaks, LED lighting, and full

ventilation with energy recovery systems — either energy wheels or

static cores — along with heat pumps for air handling. Every aspect of the

design prioritizes low energy demand and carbon reduction.

A standout element is the on-site solar f ield, sized at 104.6 kW, which is

expected to generate approximately 138,171 kWh annually. This of fsets an

estimated 93.8 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, dramatically reducing

the building’s environmental footprint.

More than just a building, the JACBA Centre is a model for how

sustainable, inclusive design can uplift and empower entire communities,

today and for generations to come.

Resilient buildings

Introduction Environment Social Governance Appendix

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ELEVATING CLIENT COLLABORATIONS – Sustainable service of ferings

Digby, Nova Scotia

Learn more about this project.