Pilot project begins to track energy use in major buildings
Data will be analyzed to discover new ways to trim greenhouse gases
The city launched a three-year pilot project Monday to track the energy efficiency of its large buildings, hoping to have as many as 300 taking part in the voluntary program.
The city will track indicators related to how energy-efficient buildings larger than 20,000 square feet are. There are an estimated 4,500 buildings of this size in Edmonton. It’s being called the Large Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure program.
In exchange for providing the program with building information, owners will be offered “financial and non-financial incentives.” These include tenant information workshops, awards recognition and a rebate of up to $1,500 for the buildings that undergo commercial energy audits. They will also be advised on programs offered by Energy Efficiency Alberta.
“I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a building that wouldn’t benefit from some of the programs that Energy Efficiency Alberta has launched,” said Lisa Dockman, a senior environmental project manager with the city.
The city will use the information gathered to set future benchmarks for building owners and develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Low-hanging fruit is fairly easy,” said Percy Woods, president of Building Owners and Managers Association Edmonton.
“Motion detectors, touchless washrooms, changing out your lights to more energy-efficient lights and LEDs, those things are minor six-figure investments,” he added.
Woods said in 50,000- to 60,000-square-foot buildings, these changes will pay for themselves in five to seven years.
“There’s nothing like the market stimulating change and if you are allowed to pollute for free, which has been the case forever, then why would you make a change?” said Coun. Scott McKeen, who made the announcement at Epcor Tower.
If you are allowed to pollute for free, which has been the case forever, then why would you make a change?
“But if it becomes in your economic interest to transition to more efficient buildings, less using your car, whatever it is, people will do that.”
Thirty-nine per cent of Edmonton’s greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, according to city numbers.
Mandatory water and energy use reporting begins this year in Ontario and the federal government has indicated it could become required across the country as early as 2019.
The city has committed 20 of its own buildings to the program, including City Hall.