Energy Conservation

Index: WES Control . Lighting Retrofit . Residence Energy Challenge . CFL Exchange • Chiller Upgrade • Steam Distribution & Recovery Insulation • Earth Hour

Western Environmental System (top)

Western Environmental System (WES) is the single most significant tool in energy consumption on campus. It is an advanced HVAC system that can remotely control campus air systems allowing Facilities Management to schedule the shut down of service to areas of non-occupancy (ie: evenings and weekends).

A large majority of buildings on campus (50+) are supported by the system and each new building is added as they go online. Retrofitting of older buildings will be a gradual upgrade.

Lighting Retrofit (top)

Facilities Management is turning the corner on a five year plan to eliminate inefficient lighting on campus. As the project enters its final years, there is definitely, sustainable light at the end of the tunnel.

Energy-saving T8 ballasts are replacing nearly 50,000 T12 fixtures that illuminate the rooms and halls in dozens of campus buildings. According to the figures in the audit, conducted by King Energy Management Inc., the project will pay for itself through energy savings in about three years.

The new fixtures are estimated to use at least 30 per cent less energy than that of its predecessor. The new lamps have a lot of advantages. In addition to being more efficient, the quality of light output is much greater.

Residence Energy Challenge (top)

The challenge: During the school year (2007), all participating residences would compete against their five-year energy consumption averages, as benchmarked by Facilities Management's WES Control.

If a residence more than five per cent compared to that average, it would be rewarded with a portion of savings - to be spent as it pleased. To keep things competitive, the residence with the greatest savings would also take a cut from all the other residences' rewards.

The winners: Essex Hall emerged as this year's runaway champs by conserving more than 11 per cent compared to their previous five year average.

Housing Services, which partnered with Facilities Management and provided the prize money, revealed the residences combined to conserve 580,000 KW/hrs. At an average cost of just over eight cents per KWhr, the program resulted in about $48,000 in savings over the entire school year.

CFLs in the Residences (top)

In 2007, all study/desk lights in the residences were replaced. In a cooperative with Housing, Facilities Management, and London Hydro 11, 000 incandescent bulbs were switched out and energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs were put in their place.

Chiller Upgrade (top)

In 2001, a four-phase upgrade to the south chiller plant was drafted. In each phase an older chiller is removed and replaced by a new, more efficient system.

In 2006, phase two was completed. A new 2,000-ton chiller, cooling tower, and two pumps replaced two aging 800 ton chillers. One benefit of the new equipment is that it uses a zero ozone-depleting potential refrigerant, R134a (HFC), instead of R11 found in older chillers. This is part of the university's policy to phase out all CFC refrigerants in accordance with the Montreal Protocol.

The fourth and final phase is expected to be completed by the year 2010, giving the university twice the chilling capacity with a greater operating efficiency.

Steam Distribution and Recovery Pipeline Insulation (top)

To improve steam distribution efficiency, Facilities Management commissioned an energy consulting group to conduct an audit. The primary recommendation was to improve insulation on both the steam and condensate pipe lines.

By doing so, the report suggests the Power Plant would significantly reduce its fuel consumption to the tune of about $70,000 each and every year. Even more impressive is the fact that the payback on the project could be realized in as little as 1.8 years. The project is expected to wrap up well before winter 2008.

Earth Hour (top)

In 2008, the World Wildlife Federation challenged individuals and large business to shut off the light for an hour. The event had originated in Australia in 2007 and was expanded to the world upon its success.

The Western community joined the City of London and the world in celebrating Earth Hour on Saturday, March 29 from 8 to 9 p.m.  Earth Hour is a global effort to show that individual conservation efforts can add up and make a huge difference in keeping our planet green.

See the Earth Hour web page for the results of Western's efforts.