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Improving Energy Performance in Canada – Report to Parliament Under the Energy Efficiency Act - 2003-2004

Chapter 5: Buildings

Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The commercial/institutional sector includes activity related to trade, finance, real estate, public administration, education and commercial services, including tourism. This sector uses energy mainly for space and water heating, space cooling, lighting, motive power for services such as pumping and ventilation in buildings, and street lighting.

In 2002, the total commercial/institutional sector accounted for 13.8 percent (1131 petajoules) of secondary energy use and 13.4 percent (64.4 megatonnes) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To highlight energy use in buildings, the following analysis excludes energy use for street lighting. The commercial/institutional sector comprises many building types (see Figure 5-1). Retail and office space account for more than half of commercial/institutional sector energy demand. Health care institutions, hotels and restaurants and schools account for another 25 percent of that demand. Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) initiatives address all of these major energy-using building types.

Energy is used for six purposes in commercial/institutional buildings. The largest of these is space heating, which accounts for more than half of energy use in this sector (see Figure 5-2). Each of the remaining five uses of energy accounts for between 6 and 13 percent of energy demand in this sector.

Between 1990 and 2002, commercial/institutional energy use, excluding street lighting, increased by 30.8 percent, or 264 petajoules (from 858 to 1122 petajoules). However, GHG emissions from the sector rose by 35.1 percent in the same period. Emissions increased more quickly than energy use due to the increased use of energy sources with a higher GHG content.

During 1990-2002, a steady increase in activity largely contributed to increased energy use. To a lesser degree, service levels for auxiliary equipment and space cooling, structure (the mix of building types) and weather also each played a role. However, energy efficiency slowed this rate of increase. Specifically, the energy use changes attributed to each of these factors are

• activity – a 26 percent increase in activity resulted in a 231-petajoule increase in energy use
• weather – fluctuations in weather resulted in a 3.1 percent increase in energy use (26 petajoules)
• structure – a shift in activity resulted in a 1.3 percent increase in energy use (11 petajoules)
• service level – a higher service level for end-users resulted in a 6.7 percent increase in energy use (58 petajoules)
• energy efficiency – a 7.3 percent improvement in energy efficiency resulted in a decrease of 62 petajoules

Without improvements in energy efficiency, increases attributable to activity, weather, structure and service level would have led to an increase in commercial/institutional energy use of 38.1 percent (327 petajoules). However, as a result of a 7.3 percent improvement in energy efficiency, actual energy use increased by 30.8 percent. This change in energy use during 1990-2002, as well as the estimated energy savings due to energy efficiency, is shown in Figure 5-3. Figure 5-4 shows how energy use in commercial buildings compares to certain standards.

NRCan delivers initiatives to increase energy efficiency in the following sub-sectors of the commercial/institutional sector:

• new buildings
• existing buildings
• equipment

New Buildings: Commercial Building Incentive Program

Objective: To improve the energy efficiency of new commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings.

The Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP) provides financial incentives to builders and developers who incorporate energy-efficient features into the design and construction of new commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings. To qualify for the incentive, buildings must be at least 25 percent more energy efficient than similar buildings constructed to the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB). However, results indicate that CBIP buildings are on average 35 percent better than similar buildings constructed to the MNECB. The program is delivered by the Government of Canada and co-marketed by a number of provincial/territorial utilities, provincial/territorial energy efficiency and climate change agencies, and building professional organizations.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• New partnerships formed with Climate Change Central (Alberta) and Gazifère (Quebec). Ongoing partnerships with Enbridge Gas Distribution (Ontario), Gaz Métro (Quebec) and Manitoba Hydro.
• Incentives given to 372 projects since program inception. As a result, 78 kilotonnes of GHG emissions have been avoided.
• CBIP buildings average 34.8 percent more energy efficiency than similar buildings constructed to the MNECB.

For more information:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/newbuildings

New Buildings: Industrial Building Incentive Program (IBIP)

Objective: To improve the energy efficiency of new industrial buildings.

The Industrial Building Incentive Program (IBIP) extends the precepts of CBIP to the industrial sector. IBIP offers an incentive to companies building new energy-efficient industrial facilities to offset additional design costs inherent in the initial attempts at energy-efficient designs and building/process integration. The design is assessed against a reference generated from the MNECB.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Six contribution agreements were signed; three of these were for laboratories.
• Seventeen projects provided incentives since program inception.
• Seventeen architects and engineers were trained for energy-efficient industrial building design.
• Modelling guidelines for industrial buildings were completed.
• One design charrette for a printing plant was completed.

For more information:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/newbuildings

New Buildings: Green Buildings Program

Objective: To reduce energy use, resource consumption and emissions from commercial buildings through design, construction and retrofitting while increasing cost-effectiveness.

The program plays a significant role in establishing goals for energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial buildings through a variety of key activities. Through the C-2000 Program for Advanced Commercial Buildings – a small demonstration program for high-performance buildings – NRCan sets targets for designers to reduce energy consumption by 50 percent and water consumption by 40 percent. It provides the necessary tools, guidelines and techniques through its integrated design process (IDP) to lead design teams to produce optimized, energy-efficient, integrated building designs that fully exploit building component synergies.

The program also provides ongoing support to NRCan programs such as CBIP by developing guidelines, providing technical support and developing downloadable simulation software tools that perform accurate building analysis, assist in design and measure compliance with these incentive programs.

NRCan launched the Green Building Challenge (GBC) in 1996 (now managed by a third party) and established Sustainable Building (SB) conferences to showcase the results and best practices of the competing energy-efficient buildings. GBC brings together more than 20 countries focused on the development and testing of an internationally accepted system for assessing the environmental performance of buildings. The NRCan-developed electronic GBTool^TM is used in the assessments.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Award-winning C-2000 building at Red River College, Winnipeg, was featured on the front cover of Canadian Architect magazine, highlighting the largest building designed and built under CANMET Energy Technology Centre's (CETC's) C-2000 Program and also the first major adaptive re-use of heritage buildings.
• CETC continued to build capacity for energy-efficient building design by integrating C-2000, the IDP and energy software tools into university/college architecture and building science curricula, as well as through seminars given at the largest construction trade show in Canada (Construct Canada) and by working with municipalities in Alberta and Manitoba and the city of Ottawa.
• The SB'05 Canadian Team was established and Canadian buildings are currently being reviewed and selected for assessments to be presented at the 2005 conference.

For more information:
nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/programs_bg_e.html

GBTool is a Trademark of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources.

Existing Buildings: Energy Innovators Initiative

Objective: To encourage commercial businesses and public institutions to become more energy efficient and reduce their GHG emissions that contribute to climate change.

The Energy Innovators Initiative (EII) helps commercial organizations and public institutions explore energy efficiency options and strategies, offering them access to tools and financial assistance to help reduce energy costs and improve competitiveness. Members join the EII by sending a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources from senior management stating their commitment to energy efficiency. Currently, over 1600 commercial, institutional and multi-unit residential organizations across Canada are Energy Innovators.

After joining the EII, members can apply for Energy Retrofit Assistance (ERA) funding for retrofit planning activities and retrofit implementation projects in existing commercial/institutional buildings.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Expanded program to allow more organizations to apply for funding.
• Established 13 formal partnerships with member-based associations through contribution agreements.
• Funded approximately 70 energy retrofit implementation projects and more than 205 retrofit planning activities.

For more information:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/commercial/existing.cfm

Equipment: Energy Efficiency Standards and Regulations

Objective: To eliminate the less energy-efficient models of energy-using equipment from the market through minimum performance regulations under the Energy Efficiency Act.

The Energy Efficiency Regulations incorporate national consensus performance standards that include testing procedures to determine the energy performance of the equipment. They prohibit imports of, or inter-provincial trade in, prescribed products that fail to meet minimum energy-performance levels and labelling requirements.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Pre-published eighth amendment to the Energy Efficiency Regulations to establish minimum energy performance standards in the commercial sector for water chillers and exit signs. Estimated reductions in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the commercial sector from this amendment are shown in Figure 5-7.
• The cumulative annual reductions in CO₂ emissions resulting from the aggregate energy savings caused by the eighth amendment to the Energy Efficiency Regulations in the commercial sector are estimated to be approximately 0.02 megatonnes in the year 2005 and 0.17 megatonnes in the year 2020.

For more information:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations/home_page.cfm

Equipment: Labelling and Promotion

Objective: To promote the production, purchase and use of more energy-efficient equipment.

The initiative includes EnerGuide for Equipment, which provides comparative information on the energy performance of equipment – including heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) – and the international ENERGY STAR^® label, which allows the consumer to identify the most energy-efficient products available based on a standard set of criteria.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Advertising strategy for gas fireplaces developed to inform consumers about EnerGuide.
• Appliance and room air directories published and sent to major retailers.
• ENERGY STAR^® retail brochure produced and distributed.

For more information:
energuide.nrcan.gc.ca/
or
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/equipment/
or
energystar.gc.ca

Equipment: Buildings Program – Refrigeration Systems Equipment

Objective: To support the development and the adoption of innovative refrigeration technologies that reduce energy consumption, synthetic refrigerant use and GHG emissions in commercial and institutional buildings.

The Refrigeration Action Program for Buildings (RAPB) was launched in 2003 under the Climate Change Plan for Canada and focuses on the deployment of innovative refrigeration technologies integrated with a building's HVAC systems, in order to drastically reduce refrigerant losses, allow the recovery and upgrade of the heat rejected by the refrigeration system, and adapt the system's operation to the Canadian climate. To meet its objective, the RAPB performs capacity building, demonstration, information and training activities in partnership with key stakeholders, for Canadian supermarkets, ice rinks and curling rinks. The RAPB also undertakes research and development activities on refrigeration technological solutions.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Start-up of a demonstration project of integrated HVAC and refrigeration technologies in the Loblaws supermarket in Repentigny, Quebec, as well as in three ice rinks. In addition, technical fact sheets and feasibility study analysis tool software have been produced.
• The Val-des-Monts ice rink demonstration project received the 2003 Jury's Award at the Energia Competition in Quebec, and was finalist for a Phoenix prize in an environmental competition.
• The CETC-Varennes refrigeration team was the successful bidder and won a research project contract from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the world's most referenced organization related to all aspects of HVAC and refrigeration systems and equipment, to improve Chapter 34 of the 2002 ASHRAE Refrigeration Handbook content on the design of ice rink refrigeration systems.

For more information:
cetc-varennes.nrcan.gc.ca/en/ref.html

Equipment: Buildings Program – Intelligent Buildings

Objective: To develop and promote the adoption of intelligent building technologies and innovative building operation practices that reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions.

The program focuses on intelligent building technologies and practices, such as re-commissioning, that reduce a building's energy consumption while ensuring the occupants' comfort and preserving indoor air quality. To meet its objectives, the program develops, demonstrates and deploys, in partnership with key stakeholders, intelligent buildings technologies in Canadian commercial/institutional buildings.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Developed a business case for the use of intelligent building technologies to improve building operation in Canada. The business case demonstrated that building operation optimization can have significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency, GHG emission reductions and improvement of indoor air quality for buildings. DABO, the Diagnostic Agent for Building Operators, developed by CETC-Varennes, is a key element in the persistence of the benefits.
• A new version of DABO with added diagnostic capabilities has been developed and installed at the Montréal – Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec; the Federal Training Centre in Laval, Quebec; and the Arena of Amqui, Quebec; as well as at the headquarters of Delta Controls Inc. in Surrey, British Columbia.

For more information:
cetc-varennes.nrcan.gc.ca/en/b_b/bi_ib.html

Equipment: Building Energy – Simulation Program

Objective: To contribute to the improvement of design, performance, cost-effectiveness, integration and deployment of energy-efficient building technologies and techniques, through simulation modelling and applications-driven implementation tools for the market.

Through this program, the Simulation Team develops, distributes and supports building simulation software for the Canadian housing and building industry. These software tools are used by architects and engineers to optimize the energy performance of individual technologies and whole building designs, as well as to demonstrate compliance with such programs as the R-2000 Standard, EnerGuide for Houses and (New) Houses, CBIP, the Model National Energy Code for Buildings and the Model National Energy Code for Houses. The team is involved in all aspects of the software development process, from design and programming to distribution, maintenance, and user training and support.

The Simulation Team developed the next generation residential energy analysis software, HOT3000^TM, a more advanced version of HOT2000^TM, with a more comprehensive and expandable simulation engine (based on the ESP-r program). HOT3000 is capable of expanding to meet the complexities of the energy-saving technologies and strategies entering the market and emerging in industry research and development. The ESP-r program was created by the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and modified by CETC to meet Canadian simulation needs. The University of Strathclyde remains a collaborator on several simulation software development projects.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Became first in the world to have a fuel cell model integrated into a whole-building simulation program. This model is an important tool for analysing and studying distributed generation systems for buildings.
• Established and chairs a research annex on the modelling of residential cogeneration systems under the International Energy Agency, taking a lead role internationally in the development and validation of methods for modelling fuel cell and other cogeneration systems.
• Using CETC software, over 128 000 houses and 380 commercial buildings have been simulated for improved energy efficiency to date.
• Delivered full-day training courses on the ESP-r/HOT3000 simulation engine to graduate students sponsored by the University Research Network, as well as to university professors and simulation software users.
• Further developed Web-based "wizards" to perform accurate building analysis.

For more information: nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/programs_bg_e.html

HOT2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada.

HOT3000 is a Trademark of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources.

Community Energy Systems: Community Energy Systems Program

Objective: To increase the sustainability of Canadian communities by addressing their energy needs.

This program works in partnership with Canadian communities and businesses to address energy needs through a holistic approach to energy efficiency, renewable energy and community energy planning. NRCan has supported many district energy projects (some of which are based on renewable energy such as using waste energy from the local power plants) in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. NRCan continues to help communities to develop Sustainable Community Energy Plans, using tools that are designed to reduce energy demand, emphasize conservation and promote reliance on local renewable energy sources.

Key 2003-2004 Achievements

• Continued the community energy training program and held workshops in Springhill and Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, and in Pembroke, Ontario.
• Developed a planning methodology that enables municipalities to develop a long-term growth strategy while minimizing energy consumption and maximizing renewable energy.
• Sponsored the Canadian District Energy Association Conference and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' study tour to Europe.
• Supported a field trial of a high-efficiency, 60-kilowatt microturbine installation supplying heat and power to Place des Arts, Montréal. This project was also funded by Hydro-Québec and Gaz Métro, and the packaged heat recovery turbine system was supplied by Mariah Energy Corporation of Calgary.
• Carried out a study of the properties of a Drag Reducing Agent that is capable of reducing by approximately 80 percent pumping costs in buildings or district heating systems. Constructed a test rig to mimic a district heating system in tests of building energy transfer stations.

For more information: nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/cetc/cetc01/htmldocs/programs_ces_e.html