Energy Manager

News
Top energy savers recognized at FortisBC 2017 Efficiency in Action Awards

May 29, 2017 - FortisBC recognized 11 B.C. organizations for their “dedication to conserving energy” recently with the 2017 Efficiency in Action Awards. Through their combined efforts, the award recipients have achieved an estimated 120,000 gigajoules (GJ) of annual natural gas savings, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 1200 gasoline-powered cars off the road, according to the utility.

May 29, 2017  By  Renée Francoeur



“The energy savings achieved by this year’s recipients show that working together is an effective approach to managing energy use across B.C.,” said Roger Dall’Antonia, executive vice-president, customer service and technology, FortisBC. “Through careful planning, innovating and investing in energy efficiency, these organizations have reduced costs, improved business results and contributed to meeting B.C.’s climate action goals. We are honoured to be a part of their ongoing efforts.”

The annual Efficiency in Action Awards recognize customers who have worked with FortisBC to achieve “exceptional” energy savings in building construction and in improvements to their operations.

This year’s recipients are:

• Single family project, Kingcraft Construction Ltd, Chilliwack
• Single family builder, Trio Projects Ltd., Parksville
• Multi-family project, McCallum Developments Inc., Victoria
• Small commercial project, Ankenman Marchand Architects (Newport LLW Holding), Richmond
• Large commercial project, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
• Industrial project, Saputo Dairy Products Canada G.P., Abbotsford
• Foodservice, A&W Foods Services of Canada, Inc., North Vancouver
• Public sector – municipal, City of New Westminster
• Public sector – provincial, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver
• Public sector – provincial, BC Housing, Burnaby
• Public sector – federal, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Advertisement

VCH is reaching their sustainability targets by pursuing energy efficiency in their hospitals, primary care clinics, community health centres and residential care homes. They undertook a number of projects last year to achieve 8,500 GJ of natural gas savings, bringing their overall savings to 59,000 GJ since they began working closely with FortisBC in 2010.

“The environmental impact from health care facilities, operations, and services affects the health of the populations and patients they are meant to serve,” said Mauricio Acosta, director, facilities management – corporate services, Lower Mainland Facilities Management, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). “Health care is in a position to take the first step, mitigate such an impact and act as a role model for other organizations — that’s why we take a strategic approach to energy management and environmental sustainability. We identify projects with the greatest opportunities for energy efficiency and emission savings and with help from FortisBC programs, are able to make a strong business case for investment.”

Meanwhile, UBC recently achieved a 33% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2007 levels. Initiatives range from minor efficiency measures to creative implementation of large-scale heat recovery projects. In 2016, projects completed in collaboration with FortisBC saved more than 31,000 GJ, bringing the partnership’s savings to approximately 60,000 GJ to date.

VCH and UBC and are just two of the more than 2500 Vancouver commercial and residential customers who participated in FortisBC incentive programs last year, collectively saving approximately 95,000 GJ of natural gas in that city alone, FortisBC says. Overall in B.C., FortisBC says it provided about $24.4 million in incentives through conservation and energy management programs and helped customers reduce their annual electricity use by approximately 22,800 MW hours and their annual natural gas use by approximately 438,800 GJ.


Print this page

Advertisement

Stories continue below