Heads Up Energy Efficiency Newsletter - May 2012

Heads Up: Building Energy Efficiency Newsletter

May 2012

Customized energy management training: NRCan's Dollars to $ense workshops

Looking for energy efficiency training to save energy and reduce your building's carbon footprint? Customized Dollars to $ense Energy Management Workshops can empower employees to find ways to cut costs and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The customized on-site energy management workshops are held throughout the year across the country. Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) can tailor the workshops to meet your organization's and sector's needs.

You can start by selecting one or more of our renowned workshops, such as "Spot the Energy Savings Opportunities," "Recommissioning," or "Energy Efficiency Financing."

The OEE's energy efficiency experts will work with you to identify important issues related to energy management. Training and resource materials are modified to address your organization's specific requirements.

For more information, visit the OEE's Web site at oee.nrcan.gc.ca. Contact info@oee.nrcan.gc.ca or 613-996-6585 to arrange for a customized workshop for your organization.

Online re-tuning course offered

The U.S. Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has announced the availability of an online training course to help building owners and operators "re-tune" commercial buildings. Building operators can improve energy efficiency by collecting and analyzing data from a building automation system (BAS) to identify energy-wasting operational problems. They can adjust automated control systems to correct inefficiencies and make substantial reductions in energy costs.

Most large commercial buildings use a BAS to operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. These automated systems are often not properly commissioned or operated, resulting in costly inefficiencies. The course helps building operators to identify inefficiencies and re-tune their facilities by implementing corrective actions that typically reduce the energy use of building systems by 5 to 20%.

This re-tuning course provides useful information for employees, retro-commissioning agents and building sciences students who are interested in learning more about the commercial building industry. The training focuses on large buildings with areas greater than 9 000 m2, but the concepts and techniques can be applied to any facility equipped with a BAS.

To learn more about the online course, visit: http://retuningtraining.labworks.org/training/lms/index.html

Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce ice arena: First in the world to be cooled entirely by carbon dioxide

Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce ice arena

The town of Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, Quebec, was faced with replacing the Freon (R-22) refrigeration unit and the ice mats of its Marcel-Dutil arena as these systems had reached the end of their operational life. To stay within their allocated budget, the town relied on the most economical solutions possible while making the maximum use of the existing equipment.

Using a refrigeration system that functions entirely with CO2 would allow them not only to achieve a world first in energy efficiency technology, but also to meet the requirements set out by the Montreal Protocol. This protocol aims at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer and at eliminating the use of the refrigerant Freon by 2020.

"The 100% carbon dioxide refrigeration system used for Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce represents a world first," says Éric Lachance, the town's mayor. Lachance says he is "very pleased with the system." He adds that it is the best of all refrigeration systems, and he is looking forward to the energy savings.

Since the installment of the all-CO2 refrigeration system, significant energy savings have been generated. During the 2010-2011 season, the town saved over $9,300. The town anticipates saving over $17,000 in energy costs for 2011 2012, which represents a reduction of 24% in operating costs.

An environment-friendly refrigeration system

Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce ice arena refrigeration equipment

CO2 is a non-toxic, non-corrosive, and highly efficient natural refrigerant. The all-CO2 refrigeration system at Marcel-Dutil arena is the only one of its kind to use the natural refrigerant R-744 (CO2) for both primary and secondary refrigeration.

This technology is now competing with hybrid systems and has won awards from the American organization ASHRAE and the Association des ingénieurs conseils du Québec (AICQ).

Traditional methods for cooling arenas use ammonia and/or Freon as primary refrigerants and a glycol solution, brine or methanol, as a secondary refrigerant. The refrigeration system installed at Marcel-Dutil ice arena uses only CO2 to cool the concrete slab of the arena.

In this new technology, liquid CO2 is pumped from a low-pressure tank directly into a pipe network installed in the concrete slab. Because there is no secondary refrigerant, the evaporating temperature can be set at 7°C while maintaining the ice temperature at 5°C.

Since there is no phase change in CO2 in the ice rink's pipe network, the gas temperature remains the same from entry to exit. In this way, the ice can be maintained at a constant temperature of -5°C, something that cannot be accomplished with conventional systems. For this reason, the innovative cooling system at the arena is more energy-efficient than traditional designs and eliminates the need for synthetic refrigerant like ammonia and Freon.

The installed system has a 70-tonne capacity and comprises seven 20-HP compressors. One 3-HP variable speed pump ensures the liquid CO2 circulates in the pipe network linked to the copper-tube network which is installed on the actual, screeded off slab, and on which a 114-mm layer of concrete was poured.

NRCan's CanmetENERGY has developed the CoolSolution® approach that combines advanced practices and technologies in the design and operation of refrigeration systems in buildings where refrigeration is a major source of energy consumption (like ice arenas).

Successful projects have demonstrated the benefits of introducing leading edge technologies and practices in line with the CoolSolution approach. These projects have shown that it is possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

Videos are available on the CanmetENERGY Web site that demonstrate refrigeration principles, technologies, and practices promoted by the CoolSolution® approach.

For more information

For more information about the project, contact Luc Simard, engineer at CSC Group (luc.simard@smartref.ca) or Bernard Landry, engineer at Roche Ltd. Consulting Group (bernard.landry@roche.ca). For more information on CoolSolution® approach visit the CanmetENERGY Web site.

New IKEA store raises the bar on energy efficiency

IKEA, Ottawa, Ontario

Building type: IKEA retail store
Project scope: two-storey building; gross floor area 39 900 m2
Completed: December 2011
Energy performance: 46% in energy savings compared to a building constructed according to the minimum requirements of MNECB 1997

On December 7, 2011, IKEA Canada opened a new energy-efficient store in Ottawa. The new store is 40% more energy-efficient than the last IKEA store built in Canada in 2004. It features a building automation system, occupancy sensors, and energy-efficient lighting.

According to Cathy Langwith, IKEA Canada's Sustainability Manager, the company builds sustainability into every aspect of its operations. "IKEA Canada is part of a global company with a global commitment to finding ever more sustainable solutions for our business and operations," says Langwith.

IKEA is committed to continually improving the sustainability of its operations throughout the value chain. In addition to technical upgrades, the organization incorporates a variety of energy management best practices, including energy benchmarking.

Benchmarking your buildings' energy performance is a key first step to understanding and reducing energy consumption. It helps managers to determine the key metrics for performance assessment, establish baselines, and set goals for energy performance. Benchmarks help managers to identify best practices that can be replicated, either within a building or across a portfolio of buildings. Organizations are able to use benchmarking to identify and recognize top-performing facilities as well as to prioritize improvement projects for poorly performing facilities. NRCan's new national energy benchmarking tool, based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) model, will be introduced in 2013 in Canada and will help facilitate the benchmarking process. EPA's online energy management and tracking tool, Portfolio ManagerTM, allows you to monitor, rate and optimize your building's energy use.

"We want to have a positive impact on people and the environment, and one of the ways we do can do this is to benchmark water, energy and waste key performance indicators against our national and global locations on a regular basis," Langwith says. "This allows us to constantly improve the impact of our retail operations globally."

Making progress in tackling climate change

Along with other leading companies, IKEA has signed the Joint Business Declaration calling for reductions in GHG emissions of 30% below 1990 levels by the year 2020.

The company takes a holistic approach to tackling climate change, by reducing impacts during the extraction of raw materials, during the use of products in customers' homes, and at the end of a product's life-cycle.

With the support of senior management, IKEA is making progress towards its long-term goal of relying on 100 percent renewable energy. It has installed photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roofs of 40 stores in seven countries. During its 2011 fiscal year, IKEA's 60 wind turbines and 40 solar arrays generated 152 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, equivalent to about 12% of the power needed to run all of its stores and distribution centres.

Energy-efficient design and construction

  • A building automation system improves energy efficiency.
  • Energy-efficient lighting sources (LED, T5 fluorescent tubes and CFLs).
  • LED lighting illuminates the store's parking garage.
  • Occupancy sensors automatically dim office lights when not needed.
  • Low water consumption. Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water consumption.
  • Indoor air quality is improved through the use of materials containing low levels of volatile organic compounds.

For more information about IKEA's efforts to increase energy efficiency, read the company's 2011 Sustainability Report.

Stay tuned for more information on NRCan's new national benchmarking tool or visit the OEE Web site for updates.

First building in Newfoundland to use seawater for heating and cooling

On October 27, 2011, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction of 351, the first new office building in downtown St. John's in more than 25 years. Developer East Port Properties Ltd. is aiming for LEED® Gold certification for the project.

"We're thrilled to celebrate the groundbreaking of 351," said East Port Properties President John W. Lindsay. "We are pleased to offer downtown St. John's a building that incorporates the latest sustainable practices, for a truly healthy, efficient and interesting working environment."

Located on 351 Water Street near the harbour, it will be the first building in Newfoundland and Labrador to use seawater for heating and cooling. A six-storey office tower will be constructed along with retail and commercial space, and a six-level parking garage.

The heating and cooling system will be a variation of that used by the developer in Purdy's Wharf in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The system will be adapted to fit in with the landscape of the St. John's site. Rather than extend pipes into the harbour, the developer will construct wells and pipes below the building. To prevent corrosion, the mechanical parts and pipes that come into contact with the salty seawater will be made of plastic and stainless steel.

The developer has removed soil contaminated by an old oil tank, collected the contaminated soil, and hauled it away for treatment and disposal. Rubble remaining from the demolition of an older building was recovered and reused as structural fill.

Plans for 351 also call for a green roof on the inset where the garage meets the office tower. The rooftop garden will include close to a dozen hardy grass and flower species.

Web picks: BC Climate Action Toolkit

The BC Climate Action Toolkit provides news, resources and information about best practices to help British Columbia's local governments take action on climate change. The Toolkit was produced as a result of a collaborative effort involving the Province of British Columbia, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, and the Fraser Basin Council's Smart Planning for Communities program.

The Web site supports the efforts of local BC communities, but there is a wide range of information that is useful for municipalities across Canada. Resources related to energy efficiency include the following:

The BC Climate Action Toolkit is available online at www.toolkit.bc.ca.

RETScreen 101 - Introduction to Clean Energy Project Analysis

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to get training on the world's leading clean energy project analysis software - by the people who developed it. Spaces are strictly limited. Click on the links below to register:

Toronto - English - June 19-21, 2012
Montreal - French - September 11-13, 2012

The RETScreen Training Institute is delivered in collaboration with the Faculty of Environmental Studies at Toronto's York University. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.

What Will the Course Cover?

This beginner-level course will provide an intensive introduction on how to properly use the RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Software to assess the technical & financial viability of projects. Topics will include:

  • Overview of the RETScreen software, including five step standard analysis
  • Energy efficiency, heating, cooling and power project analysis
  • Greenhouse gas emissions analysis
  • Financial & risk analysis
  • Databases & engineering tools
  • Overview of legal and policy toolkits
  • On-going energy performance analysis with RETScreen Plus

Energy Matters Summit

The 8th annual Energy Matters Summit, titled Building Partnerships for a Sustainable Energy Future, hosted by the Region of Peel, will be held at the Toronto Congress Centre, on May 28 and 29, 2012. This year's Summit will explore the links between successful public and private sector collaborations in energy management and will have keynote addresses from Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver and Ontario's Minister of Energy Chris Bentley.

The conference offers several interactive forums in which speakers from the public and private sectors share their energy management and environmental strategies. Case studies of energy management successes and opportunities will be featured to highlight how broader themes can inform specific energy decisions.

This year, there are four workshop streams which look at all parts of your organization's energy management strategy:

  • building energy efficiency;
  • integrated community energy solutions;
  • smart grid; and
  • energy in sustainability.

For more details on the conference or to register online, visit www.energymatterssummit.com

Calendar of events

The Calendar of Events for Buildings is updated monthly. It lists energy efficiency conferences and training opportunities across Canada, including dates and locations for the 2012 Dollars to $ense Energy Management workshops.

The following list highlights key events:

Let us know what you think

Heads Up Energy Efficiency is published by Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency and distributed monthly to 12 000 subscribers. Our goal is to deliver meaningful news and information about programs, services and events related to energy efficiency in commercial and institutional buildings - and to share the success stories of organizations that have benefited from positive change. Help us spread the word by sending this Web link to your colleagues, and consider subscribing to our sister publication that looks at energy efficiency in industrial facilities, Heads Up CIPEC.

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