Case Study: EcoBrews

EcoBrews is a local brewery located in Sudbury, Ontario. The small business is owned and

operated by Mat, an environmental activist, and a craft beer enthusiast. Mat has successfully combined his passion for environmental sustainability and love for beer since opening EcoBrews in $2019.$ Mat prides himself on using only local suppliers to produce high$-$quality craft beer.

Business was booming during the pandemic. To satisfy Sudburians$$ thirst for craft beer, Mat installed additional equipment to increase beer production. Unfortunately, this meant that employees had limited room to move around the production facility. As EcoBrews expanded, employees began to voice their concerns. Employees worked longer hours in cramped conditions without proper safety equipment. At the time, Mat did not take these concerns seriously. He was, instead, focused on meeting customer demands while reducing EcoBrews$$ carbon emissions

Word of the brewery's neglect of employee well$-$being eventually reached the local community. Mat ignored the growing problems, including the threat to his business$$ reputation within the Sudbury community. He falsely believed that the quality of his product and his commitment to environmental sustainability would be enough to sustain EcoBrews.

Facing mounting debts, employee lawsuits for poor working conditions, and a tarnished

reputation within the Sudbury community, Mat hired a team of sustainability consultants. The consultants have since identified three related sustainability goals for EcoBrews:

$$ Sustainability Goal #$1$: EcoBrews will build a new LEED$-$certified tasting room and

production facility.

$$ Sustainability Goal #$2$: EcoBrews will purchase the required Personal Protective

Equipment $($PPE$)$ for all employees working in the current production facility. Each

employee will have access to $2$ pairs of safety glasses, $4$ pairs of ear plugs, and $1$ face

mask.

$$ Sustainability Goal #$3$: The owner and operator of EcoBrews will successfully complete

a mandatory three$-$hour online course developed by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety on promoting and respecting Employee Health and Safety in the Workplace.

EcoBrews$$ Construction Project Proposal:

Assume that, with the support of his sustainability consultants, Mat successfully achieved

Sustainability Goals #$2$ and #$3.$

Now that EcoBrews$$ has improved its reputation in the Sudbury community, business is

booming once again. Employees are also happy now that they have the required safety gear.

Mat and his employees are ready to expand to another new location in Sudbury. Employees

have waited long enough to work in a spacious production facility.

The consultants are now preparing the LEED construction project proposal to help the brewery meet the LEED certification requirements so Mat can achieve Sustainability Goal#$1.$ Below is a summary of the new construction building proposal:

$$ EcoBrews will build the new tasting room and production facility on a protected

wetland, located on the outskirts of Sudbury, Ontario $($approximately $50$ kilometers

north of downtown Sudbury$).$

$$ EcoBrews will install an EV $($Electric Vehicle$)$ charging station at its new location. There is no plan to install bike racks at the new location since it is a great distance away from the downtown core.

$$ EcoBrews will build a modern facility with state$-$of$-$the$-$art brewing equipment and a

spacious tasting room with ample indoor seating overlooking the wetlands. Employees

and customers will appreciate the large windows where all will have an opportunity to

take in the scenic views, especially the local aquatic wildlife, as they sip on Mat$$s

artisanal craft beer.

$$ EcoBrews will partner with a local automotive dealer, Sudbury Motors, by leasing a

hybrid truck for a two$-$year period. Mat will use the hybrid vehicle whenever he drives

from Sudbury to Toronto to procure renewable materials for the new green building

since it is cheaper to buy renewable materials, such as bamboo and stone, from

suppliers in Toronto.

$$ EcoBrews will hire a small construction crew on a temporary basis to accelerate the

timeline for this construction project. They will hire Sudbury Staffing Solutions to help

recruit experienced and reliable construction workers.

$$ EcoBrews will partner with GreenBean Caf$$ by combining their composting efforts

since composing food waste is a priority for both local businesses.

Use the case study above to answer the question below:

QUESTION

$1.$ In which of the following LEED Impact Categories will EcoBrews earn points for proposing to install large windows overlooking the wetlands?

a$.$ Water Efficiency

b$.$ Sustainable Sites

c$.$ Regional Priority

d$.$ Site Sustainability

e$.$ Indoor Environmental Quality