Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/124234
l lectrical Contractors Association of British Columbia (ECABC) president Deborah Cahill explains that 2013 has presented its fair share of challenges for the association. Cahill has been working hard to deliver services for ECABC clients while ensuring the association remains profitable. "The issues we face include changes in technology, government intervention and a need for more skilled workers," says Cahill. However, if one thing unites electrical contractors in B.C. this year, it's their optimism. "Our company is expanding into different areas of the province and other parts of Western Canada," says Ron Fettback, construction manager for Western Pacific Enterprises (WPE). "Things are busy across the country, even in Saskatchewan – and of course Northern Alberta is going strong as usual." Fettback echoes the sentiments of WPE partner Hal Moore, who in late 2010 remarked, "We've been too busy to do anything but keep our noses to the grindstone, and everyone seems to be in the same boat." However, the hubbub back then was partly due to the impending cut-off for federal infrastructure spending, whereas today Fettback is referring to a more bona fide economic recovery. "We're involved in a lot of utility projects, and there are many other work opportunities in different sectors," he says. In fact, WPE is so busy that it has opened a permanent office in Edmonton. Given the rush of new projects in the commercial, institutional and industrial sectors, and given that many of them strive for LEED certification, some organizations are looking to ensure that developers receive comprehensive support in achieving their goals. The MCW Group Of Companies includes MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd., which has a proven track record in providing performance contracting that incorporates provisions such as insights into the needs of individual end-users and the ability to secure utility incentives. In B.C., BC Hydro has become a substantial source of support due to its New Construction Program and Continuous Optimization initiatives, the former of which was relaunched four years ago to create demand and increase the production of new energy-efficient commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings. "Since the re-launch we've seen a doubling in participation every year," says Luis Damy, new construction program manager, BC Hydro. By working with the electrical and mechanical contracting community (Damy cites Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. CEO Steve Nemetz as a high-profile collaborator), BC Hydro is steadily growing these programs E Bright Sparks Electrical contracting sector moves full steam ahead by Robin Brunet so that they are not just sources for financial aid but for education as well. "For example, we hold workshops on a variety of topics, one being lighting design, hence Steve's participation," says Damy. The New Construction Program, which encourages the adoption of green and energy-efficient systems early in the design process, provides a range of tools and financial assistance to overcome financial barriers that might be associated with designing and constructing energy-efficient high-performance buildings. The Continuous Optimization program focuses on operational conservation measures and helps continuously improve the level of efficiency of building operations via the Energy Management Information System. Financial support comes in the form of BC Hydro funding 100 per cent of the cost for a re-commissioning consultant to recommend energyefficiency improvements, as well as different Power Smart solutions. "Thanks to help from people in the electrical field like Steve Nemetz, our initiatives are enjoying a great response and a lot of new commercial projects are going through our programs, one recent example being Telus Garden," Damy notes. He is referring to the new 53-storey Telus headquarters, where energy efficiency was fully realized through extensive energy modelling supported by the New Construction Program. The study consisted of a detailed simulation of how the headquarters and another tower on the Telus Gardens site will perform hour-by-hour, day or night, over a year. As a result it was decided that heat from an existing Telus data centre next door will be recovered and transferred to the two towers and that the headquarters will also have energy-efficient LED lighting and advanced lighting controls. Nemetz's willingness to lend his expertise on behalf of BC Hydro is not surprising. Several years ago, with the overall objective to provide design solutions in addition to his company's regular activities, he expanded what was then called his Light Art Concepts division to include a lighting design centre within the company's Vancouver office. The centre offers owners, architects and designers a sample board, computer renderings and other design features to help them create the most functional and esthetic lighting systems. Since then, a branch of the rebranded Lucent Design Telus Garden: Energy efficiency was fully realized through extensive energy modelling. Renderings courtesy Westbank Corp. Electrical and Communication Systems p26-33Structural_Electrical.indd 31 april 2013 /31 13-04-05 1:59 PM