The City is working with Guelph Hydro and Union Gas to measure the energy used in 23 commercial and institutional buildings. The measurements will be collected and used in a Building Label Pilot Program from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
“The building labelling system is designed to promote energy-efficiency in existing buildings and encourage energy-efficient design in new buildings,” says Prashant Bhalja, The City of Guelph’s Energy Conservation Project Manager. “NRCan is testing the labelling system before deciding how to roll out a full program across Canada.”
“Guelph is one of just five communities across Canada chosen to participate in this pilot,” added Mayor Karen Farbridge. “This is a significant step forward in the implementation of our Community Energy Plan. It will help us meet our goals of using 50% less energy and producing 60% fewer greenhouse gas emissions over the next 25 years.”
The buildings chosen for the pilot program include: fourteen schools in the Wellington Catholic District, three schools in the Upper Grand District, three City of Guelph office buildings, and three multi-unit residential buildings at the University of Guelph. Each building in the pilot project will be audited measuring its use of water, electricity and natural gas.
“We’re glad to have the help in measuring and reporting our energy use,” says Lloyd Cummins, Department Head, Energy and Utilities for the University of Guelph. “The audit for the building label program will show us where we can improve energy-efficiency in these three buildings. From there we can take those principles and apply them campus-wide.”
NRCan is contributing $47,944 to pilot project, and City is providing staff resources to perform the building audits.