The City of Toronto's environmental plan calls for at least a 15% reduction in energy consumption in city-owned facilities. The work on the Civic Centres represents substantial long-term energy savings for the city and provides significant environmental benefits. Toronto Hydro Energy Services Inc. was contracted to provide Performance Design Build services for the $4.2 million Civic Centres project.

Full turnkey project services
Having performed an energy audit and feasibility study, Toronto Hydro Energy Services has extensive knowledge of the facilities. All proposed energy efficiency improvements were fully quantified in terms of energy savings and environmental benefits. Under the Performance Design Build service, Toronto Hydro Energy Services provided full turnkey project services to implement the proposed measures and post-implementation monitoring and verification of results — 85% of the energy savings are guaranteed in the first year in the first year without additional insurance premium.

Significant greenhouse gas savings
The work on the Civic Centres is not just about saving money. It's also about contributing to Toronto's environmental plan and Kyoto Protocol targets. When all measures are implemented, the project will reduce annual electricity use by 6,730,000 kWh and annual natural gas consumption by over 100,000 cubic metres. These reductions along with the use of renewable energy through solar wall heating, will eliminate 2,200 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions annually. Carbon dioxide is one of the main contributors to smog and greenhouse gases.

Metro Hall first to use 25-watt lighting
Energy efficient lighting retrofits deliver immediate energy savings as lighting fixtures are refitted with lower wattage lighting. In the case of Metro Hall, approximately 20,000 32-watt fluorescent tubes were replaced with 25-watt tubes. This difference in wattage has little impact on the building's operation yet had a significant effect on electricity use. From this single measure, electricity savings are over $10,000 per year. Metro Hall is the first installation in the city to use this new technology.

Ventilation controls installed
Optimizing a building's ventilation needs with the intake of external air and the output of heated or cooled air helps save on heating costs. At Metro Hall, CO2 sensors now trigger building ventilation controls. Rather than continuously pumping external air through HVAC components, interior air quality controls and variable speed ventilation fans have been upgraded to enable better control and optimum air exchange contributing to a reduction in energy consumption and improved building conditions.

Integration of building automation systems
Building automation systems are vital for effective use of utilities as they aid in the management of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Toronto Hydro Energy Services upgraded the existing building automation systems in each of the major buildings to take advantage of the latest technological advances. The systems at various facilities were integrated to give building managers the ability to manage multiple buildings from a single location. Now the building automation systems can be accessed from anywhere in the city where a building manager can sign on to the city's wide area network.

Bringing in renewable green energy
Renewable energy played a role in the proposed energy improvements. Solar wall technology, which heats air as it's passed through a perforated sheet metal wall adjacent to the building, is a relatively low-tech method of incorporating renewable energy in a building's heating plant. A solar wall solution is being designed and installed by Toronto Hydro Energy Services for the Police Garage and Scadding Court Community Centre.

High profile, high impact project
Buildings such as City Hall, Metro Hall and the Civic Centres are facilities where the community interacts with municipal government and it's critical that services are not disrupted as the project progresses. Improving the energy efficiency of public buildings establishes a high-profile example of environmental leadership. With the significant cost-saving benefits of this project on display in public buildings, private facilities managers and building owners may be inspired to follow suit.

As Chris Tyrrell, General Manager of Toronto Hydro Energy Services, points out, “This project demonstrates the type of energy efficiency improvements, environmental benefits and sustainable energy savings that are possible when facility managers can take a longer-term view and invest in energysaving capital improvements that will continue to pay dividends well beyond the initial payback period.” Thanks to the work of Toronto Hydro Energy Services, Toronto's Civic Centres are set to make a solid contribution to the city's finances and environmental goals in the years ahead.