Our programs supplement the on-line energy management system with facilitated workshops and technical support. The programs provide hands-on assistance in preparing individual plans and targets, jointly addressing issues and challenges, and learning about best practices and new technology.
Our programs feature:
- Benchmarking and performance monitoring
- Peer learning, problem-solving and sharing of experience
- Specific information from industry experts
- Action plan development and implementation
- Collaborative projects to share resources and obtain economies of scale
- Evaluation of technology and practices
- Administration Buildings – GREEN UP: Administrative Buildings
During 2008, 31 Canadian governments and utility companies with 80 buildings totaling over 1.4 million m2 (16 million sq ft) took part in a pilot project through the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), which established a national building performance database. Participants included the Government of Canada, Canada Post, 5 provinces, 20 cities and 4 utility companies. The pilot developed and tested the new Green Building Performance System, which enables participants to assess and improve the performance of whole building portfolios.
The benefits of comparing individual building performance to a larger data set led to the establishment of GREEN UP – Canada’s Building Performance Program. Participants are using the Green Building Performance System to improve environmental performance and maximize energy savings and emissions reductions in all of their buildings. The program identifies documents and recognizes the most energy and environmentally efficient government administration office buildings in Canada. The performance metrics from these top performing buildings inform the assessment and improvement of all buildings taking part in the program.
- Arenas - GREEN UP: Arenas Pilot
Enerlife and the Canada Green Building Council are working together on the GREEN UP Arenas pilot project, which looks at arena facilities across Canada. Arena facilities are intensive users of energy and water, and are responsible for a range of environmental impacts including substantial emissions of greenhouse gases. Previous studies have demonstrated wide variances in energy efficiency between comparable facilities, attributed to differences in operational practices as well as design. Considerable reductions in energy and water use, operating costs, greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts can be achieved through consistent application of best operations, design and management practices.
This national pilot project is benchmarking arena facilities across Canada, identifying and auditing top-performing facilities, establishing national performance and design standards, and enabling participants to track performance trends in their own facilities and the sector as a whole.
- Commercial Office Buildings - GREEN UP: Commercial Office Buildings
During 2008, 14 commercial landlords took part in a pilot project through the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), which established a national building performance database, including 64 commercial office buildings totaling over 32 million sq ft (3million m2). The pilot developed and tested the new Green Building Performance System, which enables owners to assess and improve the performance of whole building portfolios. The pilot also revealed significant potential for energy savings, with top performing buildings being two to three times more energy efficient than the worst performers.
The benefits of comparing individual building performance to a larger data set led to the establishment of GREEN UP – Canada’s Building Performance Program. Participants are using the Green Building Performance System to improve environmental performance and maximize energy savings and emissions reductions in all of their buildings. The program identifies documents and recognizes the most energy and environmentally efficient commercial office buildings in Canada. The performance metrics from these top performing buildings inform the assessment and improvement of all buildings taking part in the program.
The GREEN UP approach has been used by the Real Property Association of Canada to establish its target for commercial office building performance.
- Hospitals - Greening Health Care
Greening Health Care is a collaborative program which helps hospitals work together to lower their energy and operating costs while contributing to the health and well-being of their communities. Members manage data, assess their energy and environmental performance and track savings, using the largest online hospital database in Canada. They share knowledge and best-practices through workshops, webinars and e-mail to help plan, implement and verify improvements.
The program was launched for Ontario hospitals in 2004 in partnership with Toronto & Region Conservation Authority as part of their "Living City" initiative and is now available to any hospital in Canada. Visit http://ghc.enerlife.com/ and view the two page program description for more details on participation, results and how to get involved.
- Multi-residential Buildings – Greening Multi-res
The Greening Multi-res initiative allows multi-res building owners and managers to continuously assess and improve the energy and water performance of their buildings.
Owners will be able to:
Manage energy, water, GHG emissions and costs through monthly savings reporting for individual buildings and whole portfolio
Benchmark energy and water use against a database of other comparable buildings
Develop and utilize performance and system design standards
Identify high conservation potential areas
Access characteristics and best practices of top performing buildings in the database - Municipalities - Mayors' Megawatt Challenge
"Leading the way to more sustainable communities "
The Mayors' Megawatt Challenge has been operational in Ontario since 2003, and brings municipalities together to improve energy efficiency and environmental management in their own facilities. It is benchmarking, developing best practices, and reporting on actual energy and cost savings in city/town halls, arenas and community centres. The workshops also address the requirements of Ontario legislation (Bill 21), green design for new municipal buildings, and the preparation of energy management plans for council approval.
The collaborative Arenas Project was conceived through the workshops, and is available to all program members. The project aims to achieve large-scale energy and water savings in arena facilities across multiple municipalities, through standardized, on-line facility and equipment audits, arena manager workshops, and implementation of comprehensive energy retrofit projects and operational best practices.
A needs assessment addressing the energy conservation opportunities and challenges of small municipalities has been funded by Hydro One, as a means of engaging them in saving energy and money in their facilities.
The Mayors’ Megawatt Challenge is delivered in Ontario in partnership with Toronto & Region Conservation. For more information, or to register for the program, please visit http://mmc.enerlife.com.
- Retail Branches - GREEN UP: Retail Branches Pilot
Canada Green Building Council’s GREEN UP Retail Branches pilot project brings together banks and credit unions from across Canada to assess and improve the performance of their retail buildings using online tools and national forums, while shaping a new approach to managing the energy and environmental performance of all buildings in Canada.
Each participant is receiving a Building Performance Audit for a top performing branch to measure, document and benchmark the operating performance of individual building systems. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of high performing bank and credit union branches.
- Schools – GREEN UP: K-12 Schools; Sustainable Schools
School boards across the country are participating in the GREEN UP program to focus on their buildings’ performance. Ongoing working group webinars and LEED Action Plan workshops allow participants to staying engaged and achieving savings. Participants are identifying specific performance indicators, establishing relevant and informed performance metrics, and tracking progress. Using GREEN UP results, school boards are guiding integrated buildings performance teams to set performance targets for new buildings and work towards deep reductions in energy use for their existing buildings. Richmond School District 38 used this methodology in developing the design of its new Brighouse school.
Sustainable Schools is a Toronto and Region Conservation program which identifies and evaluates best practices in green, energy efficient design, retrofit, commissioning and operations, and helps boards take action to improve the energy and environmental performance of their schools. As well, Sustainable Schools facilitates access to government and utility company incentives, helping them meet their energy efficiency and environmental goals.
- Universities and Colleges – GREEN UP: Post Secondary Institutions
Information about this program will be available soon.
