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FEBRUA RY 2016 | 51 Energy Management PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY STANTEC Echlin notes that not only has submetering technology advanced recently with the adoption of cloud computing and robust wireless connectivity supporting net- work infrastructure, but that metering and reporting requirements in major cen- tres are becoming more comprehensive. "In California, operators of industrial buildings must now report every disaggregated service, so there will need to be lots of retrofits to enable this," he says. To support initiatives in better energy management and conservation, utili- ties are providing an increasingly wide range of programs for business, industrial, institutional and residential customers. In Ontario, for example, the province's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) works with local distribution com- panies and other partners in offering tools, resources, information and incentives to foster energy conservation. The IESO's saveONenergy website gives viewers an idea of the extensive range of programs. And they are getting results. "In the period 2011 to 2014, six terawatt hours of savings were achieved. That was 109 per cent of the target. For 2015 to 2020, the target is for 8.7 terawatt hours saved," says Sean Brady, director of busi- ness development at IESO. The savings are affecting overall consumption. One of IESO's most successful energy conservation initiatives has involved retrofits for the ICI sectors. "Energy demand is expected to decline this year as conservation savings and distribution- connected generation will more than offset any growth from economic expansion or population growth," Brady says. Another utility, BC Hydro, uses a formula for funding a portion of the incremental costs associated with installation of more energy efficient equipment and systems. "BC Hydro provides from 35 to 75 per cent of those incremental costs," says Oscar Ceron, new construction program manager at BC Hydro. On a recent project, the utility helped enable the deployment of some critical energy saving technologies at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital's new emergency cen- tre and psychiatric unit. The hospital was the first in B.C. to have a displacement ventilation system that is coupled with heating/cooling ceiling panels. "Also, the hospital now has a complex of concrete tunnels and water storage tanks integrated into the basement. This allows for the hospital to store heat in the winter or act as a heat sink in the summer," Ceron says. Many utilities across the country provide financial incentives for both the energy modelling study and for achieving above-code energy performance once the build- ing is complete, says Nicole Bogdanovic, corporate communications advisor at FortisBC. "In any jurisdiction, builders should contact the local utility at the concep- tual stage of the project, to make sure they pre-qualify their project for incentives." Using a graphics package to quickly view just how well – or not – an energy sys- tem is operating is now a common feature of building automation. But the energy management system and supporting graphics package on the recent award-win- ning upgrade of the Vancouver Aquarium is state-of-the-art. "What is new is the level of detail and measurement verification of energy consumption, load peaks, where energy is being consumed, how much and when, all with quick visual acces- sibility, and all available on other platforms – smartphone, tablet, laptop, PCs," says Eric Balt, control division manager at Houle Electric. Houle completed heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the new three-sto- rey expansion building, using two water-source heat pumps and sea energy with heat/cool recovery and rejection. A Displacement ventilation system and water storage tanks beneath the Nanaimo Regional Hospital. Glotman Simpson.indd 1 16-01-07 11:49

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