Energy Management Projects

Through the Energy Innovator's Initiative lead by NRCan your building may be eligible for a re-imbursement of 50% (pdf) of the cost of an Energy Management Study. We are members of the Initiative and will gladly consult with our clients regarding their eligibility.

You can find us listed as a consultant on the OEE web site.

To take a closer look at some of our Energy Management Projects please scroll down.

"The Allenway" 360 Ridelle Ave. Toronto

Description: A 335 unit condominium built in 1970. It has hot water heating with baseboard convectors in the suites. The boiler plant was made up of atmospheric boilers with 2-mid efficiency fan-assisted boilers that were added to base load the plant in the late 80's. There is an unheated underground parking garage and a pool on the top floor.

Energy Use: When benchmarked, the gas usage of the building was 23.5m3/m2 (cubic meters of gas per square meter of gross floor area). The highest use we have seen is 34 m3/m2 for a 30 year old, 500-unit rental building

Major Recommendations:
• Replace the boiler plant with a new plant using cast iron boilers, DDC controls, primary-secondary-tertiary pumping.
• Replace broken electric valves on convectors.
• Re-pipe the lower domestic water pressure zone to eliminate booster pumps, install variable speed drive on the domestic water booster pumps for the upper zone
• Heat domestic hot water with main boilers using double wall plate heat exchangers.

Projected Savings: The project will save $91,000/year for a simple pay back (including incentives from Enbridge Gas and NRCAn of $75,000) of less than 5 years.

Present Status: Study complete. NRCan contribution confirmed. Construction is nearing completion.

"Wrigley Lofts" 245 Carlaw Ave. Toronto

Description: The building is a converted factory constructed of reinforced concrete. The main building is heated by a two-pipe steam system. The suites contain cast iron radiators. The boiler plant is made up of one steam boiler, initially used mainly for industrial process purposes as well as space heating. It was about twice the size needed and over 40 years old.

Energy Use: When benchmarked, the gas usage of the building was found to be high due to the lack of insulation and old, single glazed windows.

Major Recommendations:
• Replace the boiler plant with a new plant using the PST system.
• Replace windows.
• Heat domestic hot water with main boilers using double wall plate heat exchangers.

Present Status: Study complete. NRCan contribution confirmed. Construction complete.

"Palace Pier" 2045 Lakeshore Blvd. Toronto

Description: Palace Pier is a 47-storey condominium building, built in the '70's. The building has extensive common facilities including a swimming pool, restaurant, health club, squash courts, and a large penthouse clubroom with rooftop deck. We have worked on many energy conservation measures for Palace Pier over the years, starting with a new booster pump station controlled by variable speed drives, in 1994. This was the first application of VSDs to control booster pumps in a residential building in Canada. Most recently we have designed what is arguably the most effcient chiller system in Canada. It features 2 variable speed Carrier centrifual chiller s pipin in a primary configuration, cooling towers with variable speed drives controlling the fans, variable speed chilled water system and an extensive DDC automation system. Palace Pier is continuing their ongoing energy conservation program.

Energy Use: It used 22 cubic meters of gas for every square meter of above grade floor space. Most rental buildings with original heating systems average about 24 m3/m2, although they tend to be much smaller than Palace Pier.

Major Recommendations:
• Convert to a PST pumping system.
• Replace the chillers with Variable Speed Drive driven chillers and repipe.
• Use the Building Automation Control for cooling as well as heating.
• Replace domestic hot water heat exchangers and tanks.

Projected Savings: The project will save $90,000.

Present Status: Study complete. NRCan contribution confirmed. Construction is complete.

"One York Quay" 77/99 Harbour Square Toronto

Description: 77 / 99 Harbour Square is a condominium with two high rise towers totalling 812 suites and a connecting pedestal containing the reception area, health club, restaurant and other amenities. The complex was built in or around 1990.

The mechanical system consists of three separate plants. The main plant occupies the penthouse level of the north tower and is used for heating the suites of both high rises. The common chiller plant is located on the first level of the south high-rise, providing cooling for both towers. The retail and commercial spaces on the ground floor of the north tower are served by their own, independent mechanical systems.

Energy Use: York Quay uses about 15 m3/m2 in natural gas. This seems efficient but is due to a substantial portion of the suite heating being done by electric baseboards. The electrical load is 30% higher than average.

Major Recommendations:
• The pumps are over-sized. The distribution pump alone uses more than 50K/year at current electrical rates. One measure is to re-work the distribution system to require less pumping power and to use a variable speed drive. This will ensure that the systems will not be over-pumped during the seasons when less flow is required.
• Rework the piping of the chillers to reduce condenser water and chilled water pumping requirements. Presently, water has to be pumped through both chillers even if only one is being operated.
• Baseload the boiler plant, use new higher efficency boilers to carry most of the load.
• Reword the controls in the suites so that the fan coils ar favoured over the electric baseboard heaters.
• Control the make-up air and exhaust fans with variable speed drives
• Install a vaiable speed drive on the domestic water booster pumps.
• Install a DDC system to control the mechanical systems.

Projected Savings: The opportunity for an annual energy savings is about $360,000 representing a simple pay back period of 5.0 years at current utility prices

Present Status: Study complete. NRCan contribution confirmed. Waiting for board decision to continue with engineering.

"The Colonnade" 131 Bloor St. W. Toronto

Description: The Colonnade is a mix of residential and commercial space with approximately a 60/40% split in residential to commercial floor area. The residential part consists of a 14 storey building with 162 luxury rental suites. This sits on top of 4½ storeys of mixed retail and commercial space. Heating and domestic hot water for the building is provided by two 40 year old Cleaver-Brooks fire tube boilers. The problem now is the very large standby loss due to the continuous pumping of both boilers whether they are firing or not. The existing Boiler Room/Chiller Room piping is some of the most convoluted we have seen to date.

Energy Use: At current utility rates, the unit costs are approx. $16/m2 for both gas and electricity. The electricity energy consumption is particularly high, about 30% higher than most similar buildings. The gas consumption at 23 cubic meters of gas per year for every square metre of floor space (M3/M2) is on the high side.

Major Recommendations:
• Replace the boilers, rationalize the piping and pumping.
• Replace DHW Tank with New Tanks and Plate Heat Exchanger.
• Use Condenser Water to Pre-heat Domestic Hot Water.
• Replace the chillers & Cooling Tower. Option of using "Free Cooling".
• Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofit.

Projected Savings: The project will save $180,500 for a simple pay back of 13 years.

Present Status: Study complete. NRCan contribution confirmed. Design completed. Award of contract pending.