April 17, 2013 - Home furnishings retailer IKEA says it remains committed to designing and building stores that are more sustainable. As such, the retailer says its new Montreal store will be 40% more efficient than the last stores built in the early 2000s.

August 8, 2012 - Inconsistent ice conditions have become a thing of the past at the Hearst Community Curling Club in Northeastern Ontario, thanks to the geothermal technology installed in the club’s new building, said facility management.

June 14, 2012 - The application of geothermal (ground-source) HVAC systems is growing rapidly in both the residential and commercial markets. These systems offer premium efficiency because they use the relatively constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool.

May 24, 2012 - At a ceremony today, Manitoba Hydro’s head office at 360 Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg was awarded Platinum certification for its adherence to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). Platinum is the highest certification available under the LEED program, making Manitoba Hydro Place the most energy-efficient office tower in North America, claims the utility, and the only office tower in Canada to achieve this rating.

Jaga Climate Systems, a provider of sustainable heating solutions, announced a partnership with ABS ESCO, Inc., a Toronto-based consulting and construction firm. By focusing on sustainable mechanical and electrical engineering solutions, ABS ESCO and Jaga will work together to provide energy-efficient alternatives that meet the individual needs of each project. In particular, the two companies will work together to identify ways in which Low-H20 technology can be paired with geothermal, solar and other renewable energy sources.

ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) is seeking papers addressing advances in alternative technologies and net-zero buildings, as well as HVAC/R fundamentals and commissioning for the association’s 2011 Annual Conference in Montreal, which is scheduled to take place from June 25-29. ASHRAE expects the conference to attract some 1,500 attendees from 60 countries.

           

ASHRAE is seeking papers for the following tracks:

 

The Alternative Technologies track: The association is seeking papers on photovoltaic (PV), geothermal, wind power and variable-refrigerant-volume (VRV) systems, solar and other technologies, as well as how these systems affect the first cost and operating cost of the building. Papers describing the science behind emerging technologies incorporated into net-zero-energy (NZEB) design are also being sought.

            

The Net-Zero Buildings track: ASHRAE is seeking papers that examine NZEB design, the cost to achieve these buildings, existing NZEBs, operational and maintenance issues, and costs. Case studies illustrating how to achieve NZEB in designs are also being sought.

 

The Engineering Tools track: Papers that address the range of different energy modeling and building information modeling tools available, their use and specific applications, and integrated approaches are being sought. Papers from owner or architect perspectives or case studies that illustrate modeling techniques are requested.

 

In addition, ASHRAE says it is seeking papers for its tracks on Commissioning, HVAC Systems, HVAC Fundamentals and Applications, Professional Skills, and Refrigeration.

           

Full-length technical papers or conference paper abstracts of 400 words or less should be submitted by September 17, 2010. For complete information on tracks, contacts and submittal requirements, visit www.ashrae.org/montreal.

TORONTO, ON — Ameresco Geothermal, a turn-key renewable energy provider, is partnering with Molinaro Group for the development of their new Strata Condominium project. This 21-storey, 277,000 square foot multi-residential high rise, located on Maple Drive near Lakeshore Rd. in Toronto, will receive a custom designed geothermal system, which will provide 100 per cent of the building's heating and cooling requirements.
  
"Strata is a beautiful example of what renewable energy can do for large-scale developments," says Suzanne Wiltshire, Vice President of Ameresco Geothermal. "When we hear 'geothermal,' we often think of single family homes, but today we can achieve the same energy saving results in large, multi-storey buildings. The renewable energy system we are designing will reduce Strata's energy consumption by more than 50 per cent of heating and cooling energy and eliminate its dependency on natural gas by providing 100 per cent of its heating and cooling requirements."
  
The 216 ton system will generate almost zero green house gases and save over 450,000 kg of CO2 emissions every year. Molinaro Group will be seeking LEED certification for this building, an effort towards which Ameresco Geothermal expects its system to contribute 8-10 points.

WASHINGTON, DC – For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership recognized 20 partners for generating the most green electricity on site. Combined, the top 20 partners are generating and consuming more than 736 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of on-site green power annually. This is equivalent to the electricity needed to power more than 61,000 homes annually.

Cambridge, ON – GeoSmart Energy has become a bright light in an otherwise dismal economy reinforcing to government and businesses alike that an investment in the renewable energy industry is a positive step forward in improving Canada’s economy. During a time when many businesses are struggling to make ends meet, GeoSmart Energy celebrated the official opening of its new multi-function complex in Cambridge, Ontario on Friday. The 40,000 square foot facility is the new home for the company’s national head office, distribution centre and state-of-the-art geothermal training and testing facility – more than five times the size of its previous 6,800 square foot facility.

Montreal, QC – The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) to offer the CGC GeoExchange Installers’ Course to a wider HVAC industry audience. The first course, to be delivered by HRAI’s SkillTech Academy, is scheduled for April 15-17, 2009 in Peterborough, ON.