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energy reports that adjust for weather ating cost of a pump used to be 20% the equipment to run at reduced speeds
conditions, offering valuable insights energy and 80% cost of equipment, during non-peak periods. Other building
into the building’s energy consumption including maintenance. The lifetime equipment, such as garage exhaust fans
patterns. This data helps the corporation operating cost today and into the future for example, can be shut down entirely
make informed decisions for improving is now 90% energy and 10% cost of and turned on by demand using a carbon
energy efficiency and reducing costs. equipment, including maintenance. monoxide sensor system. Savings on each
Successful implementation of the project can be measured by tracking the
system results in a downward trend in Funding Sustainability Projects pre-project consumption and comparing
total energy consumption. Moreover, One of the major challenges in pursu- it with the post-project consumption.
most of the equipment is in a rarely ing sustainability is allocating budget for
accessed mechanical room, and most these initiatives. Depending on the project, Conclusion
construction happens away from the various sources such as grants, financing Today, energy costs account for a
residents, causing minimal disruption. options, and incentives can help cover significant portion of a building’s oper-
Non-proprietary BAS are very flexible some or all the costs involved. Enbridge ating expenses. Making smart decisions
and allow for ambitious additions, such has an ongoing commitment to incen- that reflect the operating economics of
as water consumption monitoring for irri- tivize building intelligence via Building today’s energy landscape allows condos
gation systems, measuring the amount of Automation Systems (BAS) with its Build- to become more sustainable and to
waste generated, or load management for ing Controls Incentive program, which is budget better for the future. n
electric vehicle charging stations. available now through at least 2026. The
Regular reviews of the energy reports provincial Save on Energy*2 program Kyle Hampson is the Director of
and taking a proactive approach to offers several incentive streams for proj- Building Automation Systems for the
replacing equipment could also yield ects that decrease total or peak electrical Complete Group of Companies, with
additional savings for the corpora- consumption. Municipal programs like a career rooted in HVAC and BAS. He
tion. This is particularly beneficial for Hi-Ris in the City of Toronto*3 can provide completed his Refrigeration & Gas stud-
older buildings, which may still rely long-term financing for projects with a ies at Mohawk College in 2009. He later
on outdated technology. Many build- longer payback period. Some contractors joined HTS, leading the HVAC and BAS
ings still have two-stage equipment like offer flexible, multi-year payment terms, service sales division and overseeing
boilers, which could benefit from the far which may provide a zero-down, cash- one of Ottawa’s largest BAS retrofits at
more precise heating controls offered by flow-positive project opportunity. Shopify’s head office. Now, as Director
a newer modulating boiler. Similarly, of BAS at Complete Energy Solutions,
older pumps and makeup air units often Evaluating & Tracking Savings Kyle brings hands-on experience and
operate at constant speeds, but upgrad- With the tools to measure success in strategic leadership to the field.
ing to newer models with variable speed place, a condo board can start asking
controls can enhance efficiency and key questions like “What are the most Fan Fong, Director of Energy Manage-
reduce costs. These pieces of equipment painless ways to reduce greenhouse gas ment at The Complete Group, is an ex-
are often replaced by programmable emissions in our building?”, “Are we pert in energy savings with over 15 years
variable speed models, which allow the using and programming our building of experience. He is a member of IBPSA
building to reduce consumption based to be as energy efficient as possible?”, “If Canada and CaGBC EAP and has con-
on demand, time of day, or sensors. we take on a project, what is the return tributed to Environment Canada’s CAIF
The last two decades have reshaped on investment?”, and “How can we track SME Program. Fan has collaborated with
the way equipment operates, with our savings?” Using the tools available, Ryerson University’s Centre for Urban
energy becoming the top cost of owner- a condominium can determine if there Energy on projects involving Microgrids,
ship instead of the cost of equipment are potential savings and greenhouse Distributed Energy Resources, and Rural
itself. For example, the lifetime oper- gas reductions possible by scheduling Electrification.

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