Going green has gone to the dogs. Eco-friendly shelters are open, under construction or in the planning stages throughout the US and Canada.

The Bow Valley SPCA in Canmore, Alta., opened in 2007. Kelsey Envik, past board member, says the adoption center at Bow Valley is nearly 50 per cent more energy efficient than the standard Canadian electrical code. Builder Robert Mitchell incorporated eco-friendly efficiencies such as reduced water usage, passive lighting and heating, zero or minimal use of construction waste and non-toxic paints. “The Bow Valley SPCA is one of my greatest achievements,” says Mitchell.

Envik says green shelters not only benefit the environment but also the animals that reside there experience less stress. “Noise is limited. Staff, volunteers and guests feel healthy being there,” says Envik. Animals are in rooms, not cages, and the open spaces benefit animals that take longer to be adopted.

The Winnipeg Humane Society opened their new 42,000 square foot building in 2007 and received the coveted gold LEED (Leadership in Energey and Environmental Design) standard, the highest possible benchmark for eco-friendly certification. Green features include a rainwater retrieval system to flush toilets, gravel parking lots instead of asphalt, recycled strawboard in the adoption area and geothermal energy. The design features windows that open to allow fresh air into the building and make maximum use of natural light.

Shelters in the US follow the same green road. In the spring of 2004, the Tompkins County SPCA in Ithaca, N.Y. opened their new facility and became the first American shelter to earn the LEED silver standard. A few examples of their green features are geothermal heating, a dog play area made from recycled tires, an Energy Star-rated roof and use of salvaged material in acoustic ceilings.

The Potter League for Animals in Middletown, R.I. opened a green shelter in November 2008. Because of ample rainfall and snow in the region, Potter’s designers, ARQ Architects, included vegetative roofing for water management. According to Apex Greenroofs of Somerville, Mass., “Green roofs slow the velocity of runoff volume to sewer systems from 60 to 90 per cent. They also reduce the temperature of your roof in the summer time.” Apex notes that runoff from heavy rainfall during the summer often has contaminants and can lead to combined sewer overflows in the watersheds. Green roofs mitigate this problem by absorbing the rainfall.

Going green poses a challenge. Shelters are heavy water users. Kennels must be hosed down daily. To prevent the spread of disease, harsh chemical cleaners are used. The new Dallas municipal shelter adopted an innovative water management design that drastically reduces water use. Opened in 2007, the shelter recycles 10,000 gallons of water every day for cleaning. No city water is used. That’s a remarkable step forward in water conservation.

Shelters can still go green without seeking LEED certification. Take the new Maricopa County animal shelter in Phoenix that opened in May 2008. Linda Soto, shelter division manager, says they adopted a variety of green features such as low flush toilets, high efficiency evaporative coolers, desert landscaping, skylights in the animal areas and computerized climate control system. White elastomeric was coated on the roof for heat reduction – crucial in the summer when 100 degree sun pounds on Phoenix for at least five months.

Green is the trend in shelters. Progressive cities often have mandates that new municipal buildings be eco-friendly. That will affect animal shelters too.

A green shelter is expected to open in Silicon Valley this spring. The Humane Society of Huron Valley in Michigan has one under construction. And the Virginia Beach SPCA received a generous grant to launch a series of green projects such as the purchase of a spay/neuter mobile that will be powered by bio-fuel. Some shelters and sanctuaries are looking at wind turbines as possible energy sources.

The field is wide open and there’s a lot of potential for innovation. Green shelters benefit homeless animals, the people who care for them, and the environment around them. It seems that shelters can save unwanted animals and also help to save the environment.

Formerly a social worker, Debra White now resides in Phoenix. Ariz., where she is a writer and pet therapist. Debra volunteers at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

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Main photo: courtesy of The Winnipeg Humane Society