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

Ontario Energy Minister visits Humber College's Sustainable Energy program

Ontario Minister of Energy Chris Bentley tours Humber College's Sustainable Energy and Building Technology classroom. Provident Energy's energy analyst, Jodi, is featured in the tour and interview.

Check out the summary and video on Humber's website.

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.

Season’s Greetings!

On behalf of the entire staff at Provident Energy, we would like to wish you and your families a very happy and safe holiday season! We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

CO Monitoring Systems in Underground Garages

When looking for areas in a building where energy savings can be attained, there are many variables to consider. One of those variables is whether the retrofit proposed will hamper the comfort of residents. Ideally, we want a retrofit that will not only save energy but also maintain, or even increase, resident comfort.

One of those possible retrofits is the installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) sensing technology to an underground garage. The CO Monitoring System will control the exhaust fans to run only when a certain level of carbon monoxide is detected.

Exhaust fans in the underground garage of your building should be running 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you do not have a CO Monitoring System installed. Contrary to popular belief, it is a violation of the building code for exhaust fans to be cycled or shut down at any time during the course of a day unless there is a CO Monitoring System in place. Section 6 of the Ontario Building Code states that an enclosed storage garage should have (a) a mechanical ventilation system to limit the concentration of carbon monoxide to not more than 100 parts per million of air or (b) provide, during operating hours, a continuous supply of outdoor air at a rate not less than 3.9L/s for each square metre of the floor area. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas It can be toxic, even causing death, for humans.

Not only will the installation of a CO Monitoring System in your garage save electrical energy and ongoing maintenance costs, but it will also make the garage warmer in winter and cooler in summer. With a CO Monitoring System, the exhaust fans will run only when required, instead of constantly circulating cold or hot air from outside. On top of that, most fluorescent lamps and ballasts in garages are not designed to withstand colder temperatures – with the garage now being warmer with a CO Monitoring System, there will be an increase of light output and lifespan of any fluorescent lights in the garage. If that isn’t reason enough to contemplate a retrofit like this, than perhaps the addition of a healthy incentive to help offset the cost will warm you to the idea of introducing CO Monitoring to your building. 

Provident Energy supplies and installs CO Monitoring Systems for garages - we offer complete turnkey solutions, including incentive applications. For more information or for a quote on a CO Monitoring System, please contact the sales department at Provident Energy at 416-736-0630, ext 5, to schedule a free assessment of your garage.

We Are Hiring!

The holidays are just around the corner but we are keeping very busy and we're looking for a few people to join the Provident Energy team!

Energy Management Systems Technician - 1 position available.

Billing Administrators - 2 positions available.

Sustainable Building/LEED Professionals - 3 positions available.

For more details, including job descriptions and how to apply, please visit our career section.