Lighting - Where to Begin?

Many Condominium Corporations think of lighting as the easiest way to attain savings on a large scale. The obvious reason being the fact that the majority of the lights in a Condominium must remain on at all times, or do they? This question and several others will be addressed in this article.

 

Provident Energy is Toronto Hydro's featured ARI

We were recently featured by Toronto Hydro for our Applicant Representative experience and success as we have helped many clients with incentives for energy saving retrofits.

Toronto Hydro works with contractors and dealers to help you apply for the RETROFIT PROGRAM.

• We have trained Applicant Representatives (AR) who will work with you and take care of your application. They have the experience to make it easier for you!
• The incentives can be significant, so the application process is detailed. Depending on your project, different levels of incentives are available.

For more information on the Toronto Hydro Applicant Representative program, please visit their website.

Free Energy Assessments

If your building is interested in energy efficiency retrofits, Provident Energy offers free energy assessments. The first step would be a site visit where Provident Energy will examine all common areas to indentify potential energy saving retrofits (lighting, mechanical equipment, etc). We will then send you a report which will outline the cost of the various retrofits (as installed by Provident Energy), the estimated energy savings, and the estimated incentive. This energy assessment and proposal is free. Please also note that all quotations are complete turn-key solutions: supply, installation, recycling, incentive applications, and project management by Provident Energy.

Some of our retrofit options include:

• Building Automation Systems (BAS)/ Energy Management Systems (EMS) with 24-hour a day Energy Management System Monitoring
• Variable Frequency Drive Installations on make-up air units, pumps, and cooling towers
• Lighting Retrofits (corridors, garages, stairwells, etc)
• Lighting Controls/Occupancy Sensors in Common Areas
• CO Monitoring for Underground Garages
• Individual Sub-metering Utility Systems (electrical, thermal, water)

 

If you are interested in this free energy assessment, please contact the retrofit sales department at info (at) pemi.com or 416-736-0630, ext 5 to arrange for a site visit.

Natural Gas Incentive Programs

If your condominium corporation is interested in Variable Frequency Drives and Energy Management Systems – now is the perfect time to proceed. Enbridge is offering double the natural gas incentive amount for VFD retrofits for a limited time.

A couple of items to note:

• the promotion is limited to the first 200 applicants
• the program will run from June 4, 2012 to September 28, 2012
• upon successful implementation of an eligible project, customers may receive an incentive payment based on a rate of $0.20 per cubic meter (m3) of natural gas saved
• the maximum incentive amount is capped at 50% of the project cost

If you have any questions or would like an updated quote on Variable Frequency Drives and Energy Management Systems, please contact the sales department at Provident Energy at 416-736-0630, extension 5 or email them at info@pemi.com

Energy Conservation Through Building Automation Systems

(excerpt from Condo Business Magazine's Green Issue, April 2012)

With a growing demand for energy conservation and a reduction in operating costs, condominiums are always searching for energy saving methods. Energy efficiency in high-rise multi-residential buildings can be achieved through a variety of retrofits including lighting, variable frequency drives, carbon monoxide monitoring systems, and occupancy sensors. However, one method that is often overlooked is the use of an Energy Management System (EMS) or Building Automation System (BAS) – these are systems that can improve energy efficiency within the building’s mechanical plant.

What is a building automation system?

A mechanical plant is a complex system of boilers, chillers, pumps, valves, and fans that provides heating, cooling, ventilation, and water throughout the building. When the building systems are functioning properly, residents won’t notice them, but when they're not, they can cause a lot of complaints – just imagine the last time there was no hot water in the building.

A building automation system allows for control and integration of the building plant. By scheduling, adjusting, and monitoring the major mechanical plant equipment, the system will become more efficient, reduce energy consumption, and reduce operating costs all without sacrificing resident comfort. The mechanical systems are generally set to meet the highest demand expected for a given season and not necessarily the actual demand at a given time. Essentially, the different elements of mechanical equipment are designed to run at full speed and power at all times which can result in wasted energy consumption. Although most building automation systems are designed primarily for HVAC (heating, ventilation, air condition) control, many systems can also incorporate additional functions, such as lighting control, computerized maintenance scheduling, life-safety functions, and security access control.

The biggest benefit of a building automation system is energy savings. Most engineering sources estimate that the total energy savings to between 5-15% of the building’s annual energy consumption. This means thousands of dollars in annual savings.

To read the complete article, please visit our website or the Condo Business website.

Make Up Air Units and Variable Frequency Drives

Corridor Fresh Air Units or Make-Up Air Units (MUA) are found in virtually all High Rise Multi-Residential Buildings. Older buildings, including rental properties, often have these units with no heating or air conditioning of the air introduced into the building. In newer buildings and in virtually all condominiums, these units do provide heating and cooling of the fresh air.

The purpose of the MUA units is threefold. First, the units slightly pressurize the building in order to prevent infiltration of outdoor air through the building envelope. Second, the units provide, as the name implies, ‘make up air’, to replace air that has been exhausted from the building by in suite exhaust fans. The third purpose is to provide for ‘air changes’, or fresh air for comfort and respiration.

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) have done numerous studies on make up air units, and have found some very interesting results. One of the things that were found was that this air often leaks through the building envelope in unintended ways.Air can leak through door openings, envelope penetrations, elevator shafts, stairwells, and other places where the air can find its way directly to the outside. The result is that Fresh Air Units can be tremendous energy ‘wasters’. When fans are sized during the construction phase, they are often sized using the assumption that a certain number of exhaust fans will be running at the same time. This is referred to as the diversity factor. Clearly, at night and at other off-peak times, the actual use of exhaust fans will be well below the diversity factor used to size the fans.

One excellent solution is the use of Variable Frequency Drives (VFD). The fan can be operated on a time of day schedule, speeding up and slowing down as needed. Variable Frequency Drives today are much more reliable than they have been in the past and their increased use has driven installation costs down. Provident Energy has supplied and installed hundreds of VFDs and we highly recommend their use in a wide range of applications.

For more information regarding VFD applications for your building or to arrange a free energy assessment, please contact the sales department at Provident Energy at 416-736-0630, extension 5.

Free Energy Assessments

Existing buildings can benefit from energy efficiency retrofits. Provident Energy offers a FREE energy assessment to get you started on the road to energy savings. Instead of a costly and time-consuming engineering study, our technical sales team will come and analyze your building. They will provide you with initial recommendations on various energy saving measures and a cost effective way to implement these measures. At your request, we can either analyze a specific area (the pool, the garage, etc), or provide you with an in-depth proposal for the entire building.

The proposal will outline the installation costs, energy savings, payback period, and the estimated incentive rebate. Some of the turn-key retrofits we offer are: energy management systems and monitoring services, lighting, CO monitoring systems, utility sub-metering, and variable frequency drives.

For more information or to arrange a free energy assessment, please contact the sales department at Provident Energy at 416-736-0630, extension 5 or visit our website www.pemi.com

Renewable Energy & Solar PV Panels

Provident Energy Management is proud to announce the installation and connection of our rooftop solar photovoltaic system (solar PV).

Since 1985, Provident Energy Management has been committed to energy conservation and sustainability. There are several forms of renewable energy including solar hot water (solar thermal), solar walls, wind turbines, and water power to name a few.  Solar photovoltaic is another avenue to clean, green energy and PV power has many benefits:

• Solar power systems do not release any harmful pollutants or adversely affect natural resources.
• Solar power systems are fairly quiet and unobtrusive.
• Small scale solar power systems can take advantage of unused space on rooftops of existing buildings.
• They utilize Earth’s most fundamental economic engine: the Sun.

However, as with all advantages, there are disadvantages to solar PV:

• Obviously, electricity can only be generated from solar power when it’s sunny and power generation can be unpredictable.
• The system is fairly expensive to install and Provident Energy expects a simple payback of approximately 8 years.

The solar PV system was  granted a contract with Ontario’s Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program. The system was connected to the hydro grid in order to qualify for the program. The feed-in-tariff is a guaranteed purchase price for energy produced from wind, solar, water and biofuels. Our system was accepted into the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) microFIT program and we will be receiving a fixed rate for the electricity produced over the next 20 years.

Although, we cannot control the destination of the electricity generated (for example, the power generated may not be used directly at our office), the electricity generated to the grid will help to power homes and businesses in Ontario, offsetting electricity which would have otherwise increased demand from non-renewable resources. Please visit our website, www.pemi.com, to view our solar PV system’s current electrical generation. We generate electricity even on an overcast day!

Depending on the layout of the rooftop, solar PV systems could be a viable retrofit for some condominiums. Our solar PV system consists of 44 panels and covers 130 square meters of the rooftop. Generally, the panels are mounted on an angle facing south to maximize sunlight exposure. They have an estimated lifespan of 20 years and require minimal maintenance (for example, light cleaning to remove snow from the panel surface). The microFIT program is still available but new applications will be processed according to new rules.  New rules and rate prices will apply but they are currently unknown as the microFIT program review is still underway.

If your building is interested in pursuing a solar PV system, please contact the sales department at 416-736-0630, for more information or email us at info@pemi.com

Provident Energy in the News

Provident Energy was mentioned in an article from the Daily Commerical News that discussed condominiums and different energy saving solutions.

The Article: Condos Have Various Energy Saving Management Tools. Please visit the Daily Commerical News website to read the article --> Link To Article

Free Energy Assessments

If your building is interested in energy efficiency retrofits, Provident Energy offers free energy assessments. The first step would be a site visit where Provident Energy will examine all common areas to indentify potential energy saving retrofits (lighting, mechanical equipment, etc). We will then send you a report which will outline the cost of the various retrofits (as installed by Provident Energy), the estimated energy savings, and the estimated incentive. This energy assessment and proposal is free. Please also note that all quotations are complete turn-key solutions: supply, installation, recycling, incentive applications, and project management by Provident Energy.

Some of our retrofit options include:

• Building Automation Systems (BAS)/ Energy Management Systems (EMS) with 24-hour a day Energy Management System Monitoring
• Variable Frequency Drive Installations on make-up air units, pumps, and cooling towers
• Lighting Retrofits (corridors, garages, stairwells, etc)    
• Lighting Controls/Occupancy Sensors in Common Areas                                
• CO Monitoring for Underground Garages
• Individual Sub-metering Utility Systems (electrical, thermal, water)         

If you are interested in this free energy assessment, please contact the retrofit sales department at info@pemi.com or 416-736-0630, ext 5 to arrange for a site visit.

Warden Hilltop Community Centre

Provident Energy was the LEED/sustainable design consultant for the new City of Toronto Ward 35: Warden Hilltop Community Centre. We were on hand at the grand opening to provide area residents with information on the centre’s various green features. The LEED target community centre has geothermal heating, water efficiency technology, solar panels, daylight harvesting, and a green roof.

Project: Warden Hilltop Community Centre

Description: 24,000 sq ft community centre, LEED Target

Client: CS&P Architects, City of Toronto

Services Provided: LEED Project Management, Energy Modelling, Measurement & Verification

More information can be found on the City of Toronto website.

Provident Energy In The News

Our Commissioning Agent, Chris Wong, recently had his re-commissioning and retro-commissioning article published online in Condo Business Mazagine.

The Article: Effective Energy Savings Solutions For Existing Buildings: Re-Commissioning And Retro-Commissioning. To read the article, please visit the Condo Business Magazine website --> Link To Article

Incentives Paying You to Save Energy

The number one ongoing cost for any condominium corporation, is the cost incurred through the consumption of energy. The OPA (Ontario Power Authority) is providing the funding for local utilities to provide a new set of incentives to help multi-unit residential dwellings facilitate energy efficient retrofits. This incentive program will be available from March 2011 through to 2014. The new Save ON Energy program follows many of the same guidelines of previous incentive programs, except for a few key differences. Instead of providing $0.07 per kWh or $400/kW in demand reduction for lighting retrofits they will be providing the greater of either $0.05 per kWh or $400/kW with a maximum of 50% of the retrofit cost being covered by the incentive, which is up from the previous cap of 40% (for custom and engineered track). For non-lighting retrofits an incentive of either, $800/kW or $0.10/kWh of first year electricity savings to a maximum of 50% of project costs.