Energy efficiency upgrades – heating boilers Institutional facilities and commercial buildings account for one-eighth of the energy used in Canada. A large majority of schools in Canada were built before 1980, therefore presenting an opportunity to investigate energy-efficient improvements. One of the areas that will help in the reduction of energy costs is efficiency gained through new technology in boiler design and operation. It is reported that school energy costs represent the largest operating expense behind salaries, and directly affects the health of students and school personnel, which is why it is considered a strategic area to measure. New technologies in the delivery of heating and ventilation is shown to lead to improved learning environments, healthier classrooms, and is considered one of the few expenses that can be decreased without negatively affecting classroom instruction. Energy savings is unquestionably
Energy savings is unquestionably the main driver when deciding to review operational design of existing equipment in schools.
the main driver when deciding to review operational design of existing equipment. A successful upgrade directly reduces the spending on utility bills and helps free up resources for other priorities within institutional facilities. Lower energy consumption also reduces greenhouse
Bardy Reavie 250–300–5458 sales@westexcel.ca Commercial Building Automation Solutions Provider serving British Columbia. Over 30 lines available.
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Ops Talk • Spring 2020
gas emissions, making a positive impact on our environment. Other benefits beyond energy savings include improved indoor air quality, comfort, and acoustics. Many central heating systems in schools are served by hot water boilers that may be in excess of 20 years old. Inevitably those systems would be operating in the range of 60 to 75 per cent efficiency, whereas modern high-efficiency boilers would see a range from 91 to 98.5 per cent efficiency. Having completed many of these upgrades over the past five years, CustomAir has streamlined the analysis of ROI to achieve payback on investments in some cases as low as eight months. Part of that review always includes the analysis of available incentives and rebates. The areas CustomAir has focused on include using premium quality equipment from manufacturers such as Viessmann, combined with installation practices that reduce and enhance operational and main-
