Posted on Oct. 27: McMaster launches Ontario’s first Campus Renewal Partnership

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Campus_Renewal_opt.jpg” caption=”Campus Renewal Partnership”]With the great Blackout of 2003 still fresh in people's minds, the timing couldn't be better to introduce a unique way to reduce energy consumption and fund building renewal at the same time.

Keeping true to its culture of innovation, McMaster University is the first university in Canada to become a partner of Campus Renewal Partnership, an energy reduction plan and management system developed by Ameresco Canada Inc. The initiative provides creative ways to relieve funding challenges, advance facility renewal more rapidly and maximize the value of McMaster's physical assets.

Launched officially today by McMaster and Ameresco Canada Inc., Campus Renewal Partnership (CRP) is expected to lower energy costs and consumption by 23 per cent and provide a 20-year payout of $28 million in facility renewal improvements.

As a show of support for this pioneering partnering initiative, Grant Miles, senior program officer, Natural Resources Canada, presented a $250,000 Natural Resources Canada grant to McMaster University President Peter George. The Energy Innovators Initiative (EII) Energy Retrofit Assistance (division of NRCan) provides grants to institutions for assisting Canada in meeting its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions nationwide. Mario Iusi, president of Ameresco Canada will provide McMaster University Facilities department with a recognition award for its inaugural Campus Renewal Partnership.

“This partnership is another example of our commitment to adopt innovative approaches to all of the challenges we face as an institution,” said McMaster President Peter George. “I'm proud that we are collaborating on creative solutions that will benefit the University, the broader McMaster community and in a significant way, Canadians everywhere.”

Ameresco Canada Inc. is an independent energy solutions company whose strategy focuses on facility renewal funded directly through energy savings. “Essentially, Campus Renewal Partnership uncovers financial opportunities from within McMaster's current infrastructure and redirects the savings into high investment priorities such as renovating buildings in need of repair,” said Mario Iusi, president, Ameresco Canada Inc.

Tony Cupido, McMaster's physical plant director, said the initial measures and improvements will be completed during the next three and half years.

“As a result of lowering our energy costs and consumption by 23 per cent, McMaster will save roughly $1.5 million annually,” Cupido said. “At the same time, we'll be contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”

This proven approach (Ameresco Canada Inc. also manages a similar program for the Ottawa-Carleton school board and others) is designed to help cope with the funding gap that is created by aging structures and limited budgets.

Specific facility renewal measures include:

• Lighting retrofits  replace old inefficient T12 bulbs with T8 bulbs, as they use less energy, have less glare, and they provide better quality of light
• Install new occupancy lighting sensor controls to create energy efficiencies during unoccupied times
• Water efficiency measures  utilize water efficient flush valves and aerators to reduce the amount of water usage
• Refurbish Air Handling Units (AHUs) to provide better air quality
• Fume hood system renewal for the Life Sciences Building to improve health and safety and meet current code requirements
• Energy efficient window replacements throughout the campus.

These measures are expected to improve system reliability, renew aging equipment, improve air quality, reduce energy and ultimately create a more comfortable campus for staff, faculty and students alike.

Photo caption: Pictured centre, Grant Miles, senior program officer, Natural Resources Canada, presents a $250,000 Natural Resources Canada grant to McMaster President Peter George, right, and Tony Cupido, McMaster's physical plant director.