Devereaux Conservation House

Worried that the town's rural character was being lost in a sea of new homes for buyers from nearby Toronto, concerned residents of Halton Hills launched a campaign to save Devereaux House, a condemned town-owned 19th-century heritage home on 100 acres of farmland.

To forestall slated demolition, Friends of Devereaux House argued that energy-saving upgrades and renovations could transform the residence into a rentable, financially self-sufficient community meeting place. The town agreed, and added $150,000 to a $34,000 Green Municipal Fund grant and $400,000 in private donations to refit the house with a geothermal heating and cooling system, new energy-saving windows, on-demand water heaters and high-grade wall and roof insulation.

Devereaux House is now a popular spot for social events and home to a community soccer club. Rental revenue covers operating costs.

Results

Challenges

• Finding contractors who shared the heritage group's conservation ethic.
• Hiring builders with energy-efficient heritage restoration experience.
• Persuading time-conscious tradespeople to restore, rather than replace, heritage features.

Lessons learned

• Volunteer fundraising takes time. Be prepared to spend more than you expect.
• Community members develop a sense of ownership in projects when they volunteer and help raise funds.
• Municipal authorities are amendable to financially self-sustaining heritage projects.

Partners and Collaborators

• Town of Halton Hills
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund
• Friends of Devereaux House
• Green Propeller Design

Project Contact

Ann Lawlor
Friends of Devereaux House
Halton Hills, ON
T. 905-877-5662

To accommodate an increase in police staff and meet the requirements of police and forensic services, the Region of Waterloo built a new Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) Investigative Services Branch building, including a forensics laboratory and vehicle examination garage, meeting rooms, office space and ancillary support rooms. Located next to the existing headquarters facility in Cambridge, Ontario, the 4,148-square-metre building received LEED Gold certification for environmental sustainability.

The project used four strategies to achieve exceptional energy efficiency results: load avoidance, heat recovery, use of renewable energy sources and installation of high-efficiency equipment. Innovative features include energy recovery ventilators, a condensing boiler and domestic hot water heater, demand-controlled ventilation, extra building insulation, high-performance windows, efficient lighting design and indoor water conservation fixtures. Rainwater is collected in an underground cistern and used for non-potable requirements such as toilet flushing. Outdoor stormwater management features and native plant species encourage wildlife and eliminate the need for pesticides and irrigation. The region chose furniture and equipment to minimize off-gassing, and developed a green housekeeping program for the building that sets a standard for the future.

Results

Challenges

• It was difficult for the building designers to understand the specific government regulations for the forensic laboratory portion of the building, and changes had to be made to the building design once third-party specialists reviewed the plans. Expectations should have been clarified through closer collaboration in the design stage.
• Heat recovery from the ventilation system was challenging to install in the laboratory, where it is critical to avoid cross-contamination between exhaust air and supply air. Separate ductwork was required, with filtration of both incoming and outgoing air.

Lessons learned

• Use an integrated design process to ensure that the individual systems work together holistically, with all the disciplines at the table and information fully disseminated to all team members.
• Target LEED certification rather than simply asking for a building that meets LEED standards, to ensure that goals are met and to verify results through third-party review.
• Choose contractors who are experienced with LEED certification requirements, be clear about expectations and ensure that pictures are taken to document LEED compliance measures.

Partners and Collaborators

• Police Services Board, Waterloo Regional Police Service
• Rebanks Pepper Littlewood Architects
• Enermodal Engineering
• Odan/Detech Group
• MCW Consultants Ltd.
• Melloul-Blamey Construction

Project Contact

Charles Allen
Manager, Facilities Engineering
Region of Waterloo, Ontario
T. 519-575-4050

Corporate and Community Energy and Emission Plans

The City of Kelowna developed corporate and community action plans to reduce both energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The corporate plan is an effort to reduce GHG emissions from City activities by up to 26 per cent by 2017. The community plan is intended to reduce emissions by 33 per cent from 2007 levels by 2020. The plans will encourage residents to conserve energy at home and to change their commuting habits. Businesses will also be encouraged to reduce energy consumption.

Results

Challenges

• Reducing GHG emissions was not the only priority of City staff, and the benefits were not clearly communicated to them.
• Baseline energy and emissions data were disorganized.
• The consultant was late with deliverables for both plans.

Lessons learned

• Ensure energy and emission inventory data is up-to-date and accessible.
• Ensure consultant can prepare deliverables on time.
• Ensure that schedule allows key stakeholders to contribute to the plan.

Resources

• City of Kelowna

Partners and Collaborators

• City of Kelowna
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund

Project Contact

Lorna Gunn
Grants Manager
City of Kelowna
T. 250-469-8936

Whati Mini Hydro Feasibility Study

To cut its dependence on diesel-generated electricity, the lakeside northern community of Whati studied construction of a hydroelectric system powered by running water from the nearby La Martre River Falls, which flow out of Lac Le Martre.

The study found that energy from the river's natural flow could provide 1,200 kilowatts of hydro power, enough to replace the 1,015 kilowatts supplied by the community's diesel generators. The project would require construction of a reservoir, a turbine-equipped powerhouse fed by a 1,284-metre pipe from the river, and overhead wires to distribute the electricity.

The system would eliminate the need to truck in 400,000 litres of diesel fuel each year from Yellowknife, which is 164 kilometres to the southeast over roads only open in the winter.

Results

Challenges

• Funding for the hydroelectric project is subject to Northwest Territory budget constraints.
• Reliability of the water supply could be threatened by weather conditions.
• Lower winter water flows could lead to electricity restrictions when cold weather demand is highest.

Lessons learned

• Storage reservoirs may be needed to ensure sufficient water to generate power and maintain river ecosystems.
• Be prepared for a lengthy study period.
• Government financing for alternative energy projects can be uncertain.

Partners and Collaborators

• Community Government of Whati

Project Contact

Sonny Zoe
Community Energy Coordinator
Whati, NT
T. 867-573-3401

Centre for Sustainable Development: A Green Demonstration Building

The City of Montreal and Équiterre, an agency that promotes environmental and social responsibility, designed and built the first Quebec building to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification.

The Centre for Sustainable Development is a 65,000-square-foot green building in downtown Montreal's entertainment district that houses Équiterre and several sustainable-development organizations. In addition to offices, the building has a sustainable development interpretative centre.

Planners brought together city and Hydro-Québec officials, architects, builders and other stakeholders to design the centre. Geothermal heating and other energy-efficiency measures were incorporated to help cut energy consumption. A fresh-air ventilation system and a wall covered with plants provides first-rate air quality.

Results

Challenges

• Coordinating a diverse group of project participants.
• Incorporating a significant amount of recovered, reused and recycled material into the building's construction.
• Modifying designs to keep construction costs on budget.

Lessons learned

• Employ an integrated team that can meet regularly to solve planning and design questions.
• Involve municipal and public utility officials to facilitate regulatory and other public aspects of the process.
• Make public education a part of the project to foster awareness of sustainable development.

Resources

• Centre for Sustainable Development

Partners and Collaborators

• Équiterre
• Hydro-Québec
• École de technologie supérieure
• Menkes Shooner Dagenais Letourneux Architectes
• Pasquin St-Jean and Associates
• Pomerleau
• Services CGP
• Design + Communication
• Pageau Morel and Associates

Project Contact

Normand Roy
Équiterre
Montreal, QC
T. 514-214-3375

City of Kingston Energy Retrofit Feasibility Study

The City of Kingston audited energy and water use in 37 municipal buildings, looking for ways to reduce consumption.

Lighting, heating, cooling, insulation and automated systems were examined for energy-saving opportunities. The city endorsed a series of specific retrofits for each building, from changing the types of lamps used to installing occupancy sensors. The audit revealed that reprogramming building automation systems - for example, adjusting thermostat set temperatures - could significantly reduce energy consumption. The changes were estimated to cost $3,130,800 but provide $351,800 in savings per year. With provincial and federal grants, the payback period was estimated at 8.3 years.

The city has carried out most of the recommended retrofits. Reducing utility consumption will cut greenhouse gas emissions and save the city money.

Results

Challenges

• The initial scope of the study, which included major building-system upgrades and options for renewable energy, was too broad.
• Auditing 37 buildings took a lot of time.

Lessons learned

• Target buildings with the greatest energy use instead of auditing energy use in every municipal building.
• Use the same engineering firm for the audit and the work - and sign an energy performance contract as a guarantee of their forecasted energy savings.
• Make sure to involve building operators in the study. They know their buildings and can help assess how practical it will be to implement the recommendations.
• Make sure building operators get training on the retrofits.

Resources

• Sustainable Kingston

Partners and Collaborators

• City of Kingston
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund

Project Contact

Debra Krakow
Project Manager
City of Kingston, ON
T. 613-546-4291, ext. 3120

Surrey Civic Centre District Energy Feasibility Study

The City of Surrey studied the feasibility of a district energy system (DES) for its new civic centre and its growing central business area. A DES distributes heating and cooling to a number of buildings from a central source. The study team decided that a geothermal system could serve the buildings in the civic centre complex. For the next phase of downtown development, the team recommended a gas-fired boiler plant. Phase 3 would replace the gas-fired system with a large biomass-fueled plant. The DES will be operated by Surrey City Energy, a municipally-owned utility created in January 2011.

Results

Challenges

• Designing a heating and cooling system to serve up to 800,000 square metres by 2030
• Meeting the renewable energy requirement of the City's sustainability charter
• Expanding the district energy system through three phases of downtown development
• Developing a customer base that will follow the system from natural gas to a low-carbon renewable fuel source

Lessons learned

• Consider the needs of future customers when planning a district energy system.
• Examine existing systems in other cities to gain a full appreciation of technologies and their benefits.
• Create a project team with technical, financial and regulatory expertise.

Partners and Collaborators

• City of Surrey, BC
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund
• Kerr Wood Leidal
• Compass Resource Management
• Hemmera
• Wellons Canada

Project Contact

Jason Owen
Acting Manager District Energy Section
City of Surrey, BC
T. 604-591-4742

The coastal town of St. Andrews in southwest New Brunswick has upgraded its wastewater treatment plant to meet environmental standards, improve the quality of life for residents, and create capacity for growth.

To minimize costs and the environmental impact of construction, the town chose to deepen and line one of its two treatment ponds, introduce aeration and UV disinfection systems and install a monitoring and control system. The upgrade has reduced key pollutants by 85 to 90 percent and eliminated the need to treat effluent with chlorine. The new system also minimizes the chance of releasing untreated effluent into Passamaquoddy Bay.

The upgraded water treatment system has reduced health risks, cut noise pollution and minimized offensive odours. The additional treatment capacity has also made it possible for St. Andrews to plan for long-term sustainable economic development.

Results

Challenges

• Quotes for the project came in about 15 percent over budget. The town sought additional funding and accepted design changes that cut costs without jeopardizing key objectives. Town planners advise other communities to prepare a budget with a 25 percent allowance for contingencies.
• Additional budget issues arose once the project was underway. The contractor had to remove more sludge than expected and an unusually cool wet spring caused delays.

Lessons learned

• Do your own research. Small municipalities may rely heavily on consultants but it is important to find out about new technologies and to contact organizations with experiences to share.
• Envision and plan for the worst-case scenario. Build financial and scheduling flexibility into your plan.  
• Keep residents informed. Start early with public meetings to explain the project and its benefits.  
• Schedule regular meetings between the contractor, consultant and municipality. Continuous communication will help you foresee and address issues.

Partners and Collaborators

• Building Canada Fund

Project Contact

Tim Henderson, 
Chief Administrative Officer/Town Clerk
Town of St. Andrews, N.B. 
T. 506-529-5120

Squamish Oceanfront Blue Barn Study

As part of a plan to revitalize the community's waterfront, the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp. did soil and groundwater tests to see whether an old warehouse known as the Blue Barn could be used as an art, culture and heritage centre.

The warehouse, built in 1965 and most recently used as a site to treat mercury-contaminated groundwater, had been cleaned up and emptied of its chemical tanks and other water-treating equipment. The tests were done to see whether that cleanup made the building unsafe for use by polluting soil and groundwater under and around it.

Results revealed some minor contamination, but not enough to stop the Blue Barn's redevelopment as a jewel in what the district sees as a sparkling waterfront commercial and cultural area.

Results

Challenges

• Tight funding deadlines.
• High cost of brownfield remediation.
• Re-deploying staff for the time-consuming work of applying for funding and reporting on results.

Lessons learned

• Be prepared for tight funding deadlines that can disrupt previously established project work schedules.
• Despite their costs, remediation projects are worth the money. They trigger major economic redevelopment.
• Set aside ample time to gather documents, write applications and prepare reports essential to the funding process.

Partners and Collaborators

• District of Squamish
• Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp.
• Hemmera Envirochem
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund

Project Contact

Heather Dunham
Manager, Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp.
District of Squamish, BC
T. 604-815-5075

City of Guelph Residential Grey water Reuse Feasibility Study

To find further ways to conserve its finite groundwater resources, the City of Guelph studied a residential greywater reuse system that flushes residential toilets with water from showers and baths. 

In the field test, 25 homeowners installed grey water recycling systems. Water quality, water consumption and energy usage were monitored for up to two years. While the overall satisfaction with the systems was high, many homeowners did not like cleaning the filters and grey water quality did not always meet Health Canada standards.

Flushing toilets with grey water can reduce household water use by up to 30 percent. But with decades-long payback periods, these systems are not financially attractive to homeowners.  Ironically, the presence of water-efficient fixtures in the home further reduces the savings possible from grey water systems.

The city is working to improve residential grey water reuse technologies and encouraging industry to continue to adopt water reuse technologies.

Results

Challenges

• Water savings were difficult to calculate, because some households did not produce enough grey water for toilet flushing and had to use varying amounts of potable water.
• This dilution of the grey water by potable water affected samples.
• Homeowners must be committed to the regular maintenance of the system.
• Some homeowners find the colour and smell of grey water displeasing.

Lessons learned

• Provide more training on the use and maintenance of the system to field test participants.
• Develop a support network through education of tradespeople and contractors.
• Provide rebates and other incentives to get residents to invest in these systems.

Resources

• Residential Greywater Field Test Program
• Health Canada Guidelines

Partners and Collaborators

• City of Guelph
• FCM's Green Municipal Fund
• Fusion Homes
• Reid's Heritage Homes
• Evolve Builder's Group
• University of Guelph School of Engineering

Project Contact

Wayne Galliher
Water Conservation Project Manager
City of Guelph, ON
T. 519-822-1260, ext. 2106