PrintEnergy & Environmental Management
Efficiency Measures:
Success Stories, Planning and Studies:
- Carbon Neutral Actions Report
- Success Stories
- Resource Management Action Plan
- Footprint Study
- Continuous Improvement Model
History and Overview
Since our beginning, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been developing and improving a sustainability and resource management plan.
Kwantlen was one of the first post-secondary educational institutions to join the federal government's Energy Innovators Initiative and register with CSA Climate Change - Greenhouse Gas Registries (GHGH) in 1995.
By late 2000 we had a major energy retrofit project planned, funded and underway.
In 2003, we received the Leadership Award under the Colleges and Universities sector (for 2002) for outstanding environmental efforts and for being the top Canadian post-secondary Institution in "going green."
The honors were presented at the sixth annual Leadership Awards ceremony in Ottawa's Canadian Museum of Civilization.
CSA GHGR Inc. president Robert Flemington explained that organizations are chosen for the Leadership Award for showing a significant decrease in the intensity of GHG emissions, demonstrating senior management commitment, setting future reduction targets and preparing detailed action plans and progress reports.
"Kwantlen's facilities staff's success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is commendable and their leadership in this field should be an inspiration to all North American institutions and industries. They have shown what creativity and perseverance will achieve," remarked Skip Triplett, past President of Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Karen Hearn, Director of Facilities at Kwantlen Polytechnic University noted "Kwantlen has achieved and will continue to achieve savings by retrofitting lighting, heating and air conditioning equipment; developing awareness and communications programs; and training operators and building managers to optimize energy performance."
"This energy reduction is even more exceptional because Kwantlen's buildings are all less than 13 years old and were built to modern state-of-the-art standards."
Along with the obvious savings, we have also achieved a number of hidden savings. For example, our more efficient lighting systems save energy but also reduce the number of lamps on campus. If these (7,000 removed) lamps were stacked end-to-end they would be as high as Mt. Everest, and this reduction is permanent.
Natural Resources Canada has recognized Kwantlen Polytechnic University for its outstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We have committed to reduce total GHG emissions by 20 per cent from our 2000 emissions.
An important part of our long-term sustainability and resource management plan involves a commitment to developing and implementing a formalized (and ongoing) reporting program.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University reports have been awarded Gold or Silver Reporting Status, achieving as much as 98 out of 100 points in analysis of our reporting framework by the GHG Registries.
Points are awarded for program development procedures, inclusion, implementation and innovation in a comprehensive resource management plan, in addition to showing how standard topics will be dealt with (eg. Goal Setting; Measure Identification; Monitoring and Verification Protocols; Education, Training and Awareness). Our commitment to an efficient management plan will help us deal with future challenges through sustainable actions.
View our Gold Report (PDF)
View our Silver Report (PDF)
For more information on Leadership Awards or Climate Change Reporting, and to view our report, please visit Canada's Climate Change — CSA website .
Awards Over the Years
In the past 5 years Kwantlen has received a number of Sustainability related Certifications or Awards.
Designated a BC Hydro Power Smart Partner in 2002
Received Leadership Award as Top Canadian post-secondary Institution in "Going Green"
The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, presents Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Karen Hearn, Director of Facilites and Dan Brown, Manager, Physical Plant, the 2002 Leadership Award for outstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Recognition by Natural Resources Canada’s as an Energy Innovator in their ‘Energy Innovators Initiative’
Power Smart Certification
Kwantlen received a Power Smart Certified Energy Efficiency Leader designation from BC Hydro in 2004 (only two post-secondary institutions and a total of nine BC organizations who have received this certification (June 2007).
The Certified Customer designation is presented for demonstrating exceptional energy and environmental leadership.
Welcome
Kwantlen has always been guided by the principles of sustainability. Read about our efforts and experiences and perhaps find a few ideas for your home or place of work.
"Through its long-standing commitment and leadership in energy conservation and environmental sustainability, Kwantlen Polytechnic University is setting an example for other educational institutions to follow." — Bev Van Ruyven, BC Hydro Senior VP of Customer Care & Conservation
Our Environmental Commitment
Our mission statement emphasizes the "importance of participation in and service to society."
"We believe one responsibility of Kwantlen Polytechnic University is to demonstrate environmental stewardship in our communities" said Skip Triplett, past President of Kwantlen Polytechnic University. "We actively pursue environmentally responsible policies and practices, as well as fiscally sustainable policies and practices."
Acknowledgments and Awards - 2008/2009
The Energy conservation leaders in both the private sector and government are among the winners of BC Hydro's latest Power Smart Excellence Awards. BC Hydro CEO and Premier Gordon Campbell presented the awards to 18 residential, commercial and industrial organizations from across the province.The award represents both significant energy reductions and demonstrated leadership in sustainability. Kwantlen was one of only nine BC organizations (2 post-secondarys) honoured in May 2004 with a "Certified Energy Efficiency Leader" award and one of only three in 2008 receiving this new top award, presented by BC Hydro senior executives and Premier Gordon Campbell. Kwantlen was the only post-secondary institution even nominated for this award.
Dan Brown, Tom Knox, Karen Hearn, Gordon Lee
Achieving Our Vision
Kwantlen has significantly reduced its electricity and natural gas consumption through proactive energy management and has committed to a Program of Continuous Improvement, dedication and effort. By the end of 2010 our goal is to reduce our electrical consumption by 45 per cent, and our natural gas consumption by 25%, compared with our base year of 2000. At that time our new conservation goals will be stated in a common unit of 'equivalent' kiloWatt hours, to allow a better evaluation and understanding of our active campus operations.
Kwantlen's Executive and Energy Management Team have always had a strong commitment to improve energy efficiency and together have gradually evolved a set of guidelines:
- We strive to ensure our site, buildings, and operations offer users an enjoyable experience and make them feel part of their community.
- New building projects are designed to a minimum LEED Gold Standard.
- Upgrades to existing buildings have Life Cycle Cost principles applied for energy & resource efficiency.
- We look for smaller annual savings or avoided costs in preference to those from a multi-year cycle (eg. 4% per year is worth more than 20% savings in 5 years).
- We actively seek peer support; publicity; staff and student buy-in; funders and programs.
- We annually review our written resource management program to improve and solidify it.
- In addition to saving energy, a portion of our electrical energy is purchased from 'Green' renewable resources.
Energy Efficiency Measures — Past Projects
Our energy efficiency project started (installation) in 2001 and completed by late 2002. This was a pilot project for the province of BC under the "Green Building Initiative". The contracted cost of the project was $1.4 million dollars and is paid for entirely from energy savings. The project included upgraded lighting, heating and ventilation systems.
Key Project Elements:
- Lower energy consumption reduces our impact on the environment.
- Less susceptibility to future energy price increases (risk management).
- Created significant employment in $1.4 Million project, mostly local economy.
- Sought and obtained over $300,000 in Provincial/Federal funding.
- First pilot for Provincial Green Building Initiative and helped develop guidelines.
- Repaired a chronic heating problem on one campus.
- Improved parking lot safety with better/brighter lighting.
- New mechanical controls give improved occupant comfort.
- New lighting improves user comfort.
- New heating systems (Horticultural) increased student learning opportunities.
- Over a million dollars in energy cost savings every three years – unadjusted for inflation.
- Installation of the new and improved building systems gives a cost avoidance value of $100,000 per year over the life of the project. Cost-avoided values are future costs avoided as a direct result of the work undertaken.
- Greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by an estimated 460 tonnes per year or the equivalent of 150 cars permanently removed off the road.
Our Greenhouse Gas Emission reductions are about 30% lower than the year 2000.
- There are also many 'hidden' savings. As an example, more efficient lighting systems save energy but also reduced the number of lamps on campus. These lamps are forever out of the system, and don’t have to be purchased and reinstalled every 5 to 6 years.
Stacked end-to-end the (over 7,000) lamps we permanently removed would be as high as Mount Everest.
Current Initiatives
LEED Staff training
Four Facilities personnel have their LEED AP Certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
LEED Buildings (New)
New buildings are Leadership in Energy & Environmental Designed to meet a LEED Gold Certification or better level.
Renovations
‘Life Cycle Costing’ principles are used for renovations, balancing the total (lifetime) expense instead of just comparing the lowest up-front cost options.
Water Conservation Measures
Our latest initiative is water management. This program is in the beginning stages of reviewing meters, consumption and potential savings. To this point savings have been identified in reducing the water flow from washroom faucets, and we have purchased and installed new aerators in the summer of 2006. Savings are approximately $4,000 per year in water and natural gas (heating) costs. This is less than a 1 year return on investment.
Management Plans
We have committed to management of our resources through development and updating of our Resource Management Action Plans. This provides a framework for us to determine and evaluate our progress. Click on the link to read or download the Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Resource Management Action Plan .
Kwantlen's Carbon Neutral Actions Report
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has taken many steps to reduce energy consumption which also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help achieve carbon neutrality. In 1995 we were one of the first post secondary institutions to join the federal government's Energy Innovators Initiative and Canada's Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR). Click on the link to read or dowload the May 15, 2009 Carbon Neutral Actions Report .
Success Stories
Since completing our first major retrofit in 2002, Kwantlen has been continuing to find, review and implement resource conservation projects.
Read more about some of these energy efficiency success stories:
- Replacing atrium lighting cuts electrical and maintenance costs $4,000 a year
- New hot water tank cuts summer natural gas use 37% at Richmond campus
- Exterior lighting change cuts electrical and maintenance costs $4,400 a year
- Adding reflectors in Cafeteria reduces costs by $2,100 per year
- Controlling video machine operation reduces electric cost by $800 a year
- Relamp and Reballast Reduces Resource Requirements
- Low-Wattage T8’s Find Their Place
- Exterior Photocells Control Interior Lights
- Open the Door, Turn Off the Heat
- Heating Conversion for Horticulture Workshed Saves Natural Gas
- Kwantlen Purchases Clean and Green Energy
- Ventilating Large Spaces When No One Is Home
- Finding the Solution to Mercury Pollution
- Count the Incandescent Program Yields Surprise
- Piping Insulation Gives Control and Savings Reports — Resource Management Plan
- Saving Water, Saving Energy in Washroom Sinks
Kwantlen Polytechnic University worked with BCHydro to develop parameters for our Resource Management plan. We update this regularly.
View Kwantlen's most recent Resource Management Action Plan
Ecological Footprint Study (Geog. Dept)
A study initiated through the Geography Department at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, with assistance from many other departments (eg. Facilities, Purchasing, etc.). Click here to view or download the Ecological Footprint Study
Continuous Improvement Matrix
Continuous Improvement (or Continuous Management) is the ongoing commitment to continuously improve. This matrix is a good way to track your current status and set new goals. Click here to view or download the Continuous Improvement Model: Outline Matrix .
The Greenhouse Gas Registry
In 1995 Kwantlen was one of the first post-secondary educational institutions to register with Canada’s Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc (VCR). After a successful eight-year partnership between Industry, the Canadian Government and all Provinces and Territories, the current 2006 registries (CSA Climate Change Services) constitute a universally accepted, fully functional and cost effective platform for reporting GHG emissions, removals, and reductions. Registries are linked together by sharing a central set of data files, ensuring related data sets are consistent across different functions. To accommodate varying approaches that may be taken to handle measurement, reporting, and management of GHG emissions, the database structure can document and record transactions on entity, facility, and/or project basis.GHG Registries, based out of Ottawa, is part of the CSA Climate Change Services portfolio. CSA Climate Change is a specialized team within CSA Group - a knowledgeable and experienced asset for government and industry as they help Canada adapt to a changing climate and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. GHG Registries maintains two primary integrated registries that together have been designed to satisfy the registry needs of GHG management policy in Canada.
The registries are:
Canadian GHG Challenge Registry and Canadian GHG Reductions Registry.
For further information go to http://www.ghgregistries.ca/index_e.cfm
Frost and Sullivan profiles the Kwantlen Cloverdale campus in this report:
Bright Green Buildings: Convergence of Green and Intelligent Buildings
The Continental Automated Buildings Association has released a comprehensive report on "bright" green buildings. "Bright" green buildings leverage intelligent technologies to support environmental sustainability while providing a significant return on invest (ROI).
The report features several real-world examples that show how property companies around the world have employed advances in green building and networking technologies to increase profits, lower costs, and help the environment.
For more information and to download a copy of the final report go to www.caba.org/brightgreen
Energy Saving Tips
Energy conservation succeeds with everyone's participation. Please join the effort with these energy saving tips. Choose a sector to learn about some no-cost and low-cost energy conservation and efficiency actions to reduce energy consumption, electricity bills, and natural gas bills along with some suggested long-term energy efficiency investments you can make in your home or workplace. Most of the suggestions noted here can be used at home and help save money. Take an active part in conservation.
- Remember to turn the lights off when you leave the room
- Turn off your computer, monitor & printer when you leave for the day
- Turn off your monitor if you plan to be away from your desk for more than one hour
- Unplug equipment that uses standby energy such as computers, coffee makers, alarm clocks, and stereos if you plan to be away for a long time
- Open the blinds in the daytime to minimize artificial lighting and let in the sun's warmth; close them at the end of the day to trap the heat at night
- Take the stairs instead of using elevators
- Choose to purchase ENERGY STAR rated lamps and other fixtures; replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
Water Conservation
- Use cold water for laundry whenever possible
- Turn off water when brushing your teeth, washing your hands, etc.
- Keep your showers to under five minutes
Commute Options
- Walk, bike, take public transport or carpool
- Turn off your car if you are stopped for more than 15 seconds or so, please do not idle
- Dine in, walk to a restaurant, or pack a lunch to avoid unnecessary driving during the day
- Make meetings more sustainable by reducing travel, utilize a conference call line or schedule meetings back-to-back
Recycle and Re-use
- Minimize use of copies - send email attachments
- Double side print all documents
- Recycle all recyclable materials including paper, post-it notes, envelopes, junk mail, newspapers, plastics, aluminum cans, electronic equipment and computers
- Bring your own cutlery and dishware to the office instead of using plastic utensils or disposable plates
- Use re-useable bags whenever you shop
- Carry a re-useable coffee mug or water bottle instead of using disposable cups or buying bottled water
- Remove yourself from junk mail and catalog lists
Download BC Hydro's Power Smart Tips for Work
View further energy saving tips at www.bchydro.com
Recycling on Campus
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has a campus wide recycling program for the following materials:
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Contact Us
For further information on Kwantlen's energy, environmental or sustainability programs:
| Dan Brown Manager, Physical Plant Phone: 604.599.2446 Email: dan.brown@kwantlen.ca |
or | Karen Hearn Director, Facilities Phone: 604.599.2442 Email: karen.hearn@kwantlen.ca |