5140 Yonge's VFD Retrofit Resulted in a 46% Electricity Reduction

5140 Yonge Street is a 622,995 sq. Ft. commercial office. In 2007, an Energy Audit was conducted and identified the opportunity to retrofit existing motors with VFDs in 26 Compartment Units. This Energy Efficiency Measure (EEM) was implemented resulting in a 46% savings in electricity use.

An Energy Audit conducted by Energy@Work identified the opportunity to retrofit the existing motors with VFDs in 26 Compartment Units (CU) and lock the VIV’s in the fully open position.

Each drive will be connected to the existing Metasys system and the operation of the drive will be controlled from the duct pressure sensor. Installation of the new VFDs will allow for more efficient system operation; and maintain the pressure set point in the supply air ductwork.

An incentive of $66,670 was secured to support the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Measures through BOMA Toronto’s Conservation Demand Management (CDM) program.

VFDs intsallation on the air handling fans resulted in an estimated savings of:

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Energy@Work presented a three series workshop on HVAC operations in the age of COVID

Click through below to view the workshop series presented with CIET and hosted by BOMA Toronto

Workshop #1: What Did We See? Reviewing Commercial Office Electricity Use Pre and During COVID.

Date: June 12th, 2020 (10:00 - 10:30 AM)

Overview: Workshop #1 reviews what electricity consumption trends were seen Pre-COVID compared to the COVID Period. By holding up the mirror, we can understand and develop a 'Collective Wisdom' based on the numbers.

Objectives:

1.1 Review 131 commercial office’s electricity data during BOMA’s 2020 Beyond Earth Hour Challenge.

1.2 Dig deeper to review electricity profiles and understand COVID responses to COVID and viewed using different lenses.

Workshop #2: What Are We Seeing Now? Commercial Office Electricity Used During COVID-19

Date: June 19th, 2020 (9:00 - 10:15 AM)

Overview: Workshop #2 gets specific and reviews what each property is doing. By digging deeper, we can avoid making rash decisions that serve no value. Instead, we need to listen, think and then take action.

Objectives:

2.1 Detail utility review of portfolio of 20 properties over the past 2 months

2.2 Sharing:

a) Management and operation staff experience

b) What tenants are asking/demanding/doing

c) Industry response

Workshop #3: Commercial Office Operations - New Norm Post-COVID-19

Date: July 3rd, 2020 (9:00 - 10:15 AM)

Overview: Workshop #3 focuses on the steps to success. By looking at "We and not Me", we can collectively succeed together by ensuring the right people, process and products are in place.

Objectives:

3.1 Review what can we expect to see with our new Norm?

a) Current Facility Requirements (CFR)

b) HVAC Operational Strategy: COVID Commissioning (Cx)

c) Operation Training & Communication Plan – NEW

d) Decision Tree: What worked/did not work

e) Post COVID Evaluation (PCE)

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Energy@Work's June Newsletter: News and Views

The Celebration of Excellence awards are presented to properties to recognize efforts towards Exceptional Environmental Management.
 
Congratulations to:

Greenrock Commercial Services

Winner of Earth Award (250,000-499,999 SqFt): 365 Bloor Street East

DREAM Office Management Corp.

Winner of Beyond Earth Hour Challenge Greatest Building Reducer: 350 Bay Street

Northam Realty Advisors Ltd.

Winner of the Earth Award (over 1 million SqFt): 483 Bay Street

Madison Group

Achieved BOMA BEST Silver Certification: 15 Toronto Street
 

Madison Group

Achieved BOMA BEST Silver Certification: 90 Eglinton Avenue East

Special recognition to Michael Hasko on being awarded the Young Professional Individual Award of Excellence.

Way to go!

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Energy@Work attended the June16th IESO webinar to learn more about their incentive programs on behalf of our clients.

The IESO provides $$ incentive support for kW reduction but under a ‘prescriptive’ model. This means that optimization of a process will not be incentivized and basically “buys kW reduction”.

‘Something is better than nothing’. 

However, it is important to keep in mind there will always be work involved in making the application, collecting the required invoices, disposal certificates if applicable, etc.  It is also essential that an application be prepared and APPROVED before doing the project or risk losing the incentive. Our advice continues to be: “incentives are like icing on the cake, you need to like the cake first.”

Program highlights:

• Incentives are available for a variety of improvement measures.

• Application must be approved before starting the project

• Applicable for many different types of equipment, depending on the size of the equipment, e.g.,

  • Variable Frequency Drive

  • Motors

  • Demand Control Ventilation <Not recommended for Pandemic Period>
    - refer to: NRCan HVAC Self-assessment tool and guide

  • Compressed air – Zero loss drains, receiver tanks, dryers, etc.

  • VSD compressor air

  • Industrial systems – Process

• Incentive capped at 50% of the eligible project costs
  (Note: 50% is typically never reached and better to assume 10-20%)

• Must meet minimum incentives of $500 per facility

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Significant changes were made to the BOMA BEST Certification Questionnaire
- now LIVE for Office buildings!

Office buildings certifying after June 15th, 2021, are required to meet the new expectations. The largest change includes the new addition of "Section 11: Pandemic Response".

Section 11 reflects the redistribution of points from the Energy and Water Sections. It consists of 100 points across 16 questions. A useful tool to refer to on a pandemic response is free from NRCan on efficient and effective HVAC operation: NRCan HVAC Self-assessment tool and guide

Note:
Properties that are enrolled in an Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) meet the 14 points for training!

Contact Lisa Liang to learn more about the New Pandemic Response Section of the BOMA BEST Certification.

Lisa can assist with the questionnaire and how these changes can affect your office building: positively and negatively.

Lisa recently helped two properties receive Platinum certification resulting in 2 Earth Awards!

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Ontario regulation 506/18 mandates that all buildings over 100,000 SqFt must report their 2020 energy and water consumption to the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines by July 1st, 2021.
(The regulation was amended to delay buildings between 50,000 – 100,000 SqFt reporting until 2023.)

For the first-time in Ontario utilities are required to provide aggregated data. This is your opportunity to review aggregated consumption data and compare how energy and water are used. The July 1st deadline is quickly approaching.
Benchmarking is the first step logical step in Energy Management. The second step is to properly understand what the data is saying – we help with both!

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The BOMA Toronto CREST Awards offer an opportunity to recognize the efforts of participants of the race2reduce (r2r) program who achieved top performance in the following categories:

• Performance Leadership: Awarded for implemented measures that improve performance in each of the 4 subcategories, Electricity, Gas, Water, and Waste.

In addition, there are:

• Innovative Excellence: Awards effective and creative strategNRCan HVAC Self-assessment tool and guideies, frameworks and technologies implemented to solve problems or achieve successes.
• Collaborative Excellence: Recognizes the partnership between the landlord, tenant, and stakeholders to drive building performance.
• Climate Champion: Demonstration of exceptional efforts to reduce emissions.
• Municipal Beacon: Recognizes demonstration of commitment from a municipality.

Awards in each category are available for Building Sizes:
1) < 100, 000 Sq. ft
2) 100,000 ≤ Sq. ft < 500,000 Sq. ft
3) ≥ 500,000

Tenant Awards:
i) Individual Tenant
ii) Tenant Portfolio

Energy@Work won the 2020 Collaborative Excellence Award and continues to help others earn recognition as well!

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We track the GAM cost every month, which remains around $1 Billion. We want to see a greater focus on GAM cost reduction and who is responsible to explain “why?” the cost is so high. GAM costs are largely Nuclear (OPG and non-OPG). However, conservation continues to be reported as the reason for GAM. Another ‘why?’ question that remains unanswered.

Energy@Work presented Decision #1 and #2 at the annual BOMA Global Adjustment workshop.
Decision #1 is to be Class A or B on June 15th.
Decision #2 is to decide on your strategy for the next 12 months!
For more information and to request a copy of the presentation, click here.

Energy@Work helped customers achieve a net benefit in 2021-22 from Decision #1 of $1,000,000 or more!

For the next 12 months, we use the Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) to support the 2nd Decision, the appropriate GA strategy, either Class A or B, i.e., your “GAMe coach”.

Our collective savings have exceeded $10 million.

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We thank everyone that has provided feedback and for your comments: positive and negative!

We appreciate to hear your thoughts and welcome your feedback on how we can improve or include other areas of interest to you: Please email: Requests@Energy-Efficiency.com

Thank You:
- Energy@Work

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250 University's Commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

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Reminder: BOMA Race 2 Reduce 2021 Annual Award Submission Deadline is July 5th, 2021

Energy@Work won the Collaborative Excellence Award in 2021!

The CREST awards offer a great opportunity to recognize the efforts of the team’s top performance in the following categories:
• Performance Leadership (Electricity, Gas, Water, Waste)
• Innovative Excellence
• Collaborative Excellence
• Climate Champion
• Municipal Beacon

Building Sizes
1) BUILDINGS < 100, 000 Sq. ft

2) 100,000 ≤ Sq. ft < 500,000 Sq. ft

3) ≥ 500,000

Tenant Awards
i) Individual Tenant
ii) Tenant Portfolio

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Energy@Work's May Newsletter: News and Views

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If your commercial office building’s monthly average demand is over 1,000 kW you can choose how to pay for your share of the Global Adjustment Mechanism (GAM) monthly cost. A decision is required on June 15th to be billed as Class A or B.

How will this affect your property?
Once you have made your June 15th decision- it is set in stone for 12 months. This could mean potential savings if you decide correctly. On the other hand, it can cost you.

This year is particularly important to plan. With the changes and uncertainty in building’s operation, occupancy, etc., what has worked in the past may not be effective this year.

Energy@Work presented at the BOMA Toronto GAM workshop on May 19th to explain the history of GAM and how to plan for the upcoming decision on June 15th, 2021. We can help you play the (GAM)e.

We call it the GAMe because it has all the components:

Energy@Work’s services include a “GAM coach”. We maintain the importance of a GAM Strategy for either Class A or Class B to win the (GAM)e. Our collective savings have exceeded $10 million.

We assist in evaluating Class A eligibility and assess potential strategies for both Class A and B.

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Submit 2020 Energy, Water, Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) data.

Benchmarking is the first step in Energy Management and the second is understanding the data – we help with both!

Ontario Regulation 506/18 requires buildings larger than 100,000 sqft to report their energy and water consumption to the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines on an annual basis. Utilities are required to provide aggregated data. This is your opportunity to compare 2020 aggregated consumption data and to compare how utilities are used. Start early as the annual July 1st deadline is quickly approaching.

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Energy@Work's Lisa Liang is a Fitwel Ambassador!

Lisa, as an ambassador, understands the connection between design and health, an essential component of operating healthy buildings. She is equipped with innovative strategies and benefits from expedited project reviews for Fitwel Certifications (12 weeks Vs. 16 weeks). This fits well (pun intended) with her role as a Race 2 Reduce Ambassador as well as her work with BOMA Canada’s Technical Committee for BOMA BEST certification.

Creativity and new ways of thinking will be required to encourage people to return to the office.

Congratulations, Lisa!

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Join Energy@Work in celebrating World Environment Day: June 5th, 2021!

This year, with the Pandemic, we had the unique perspective of seeing improvements to air and water quality from less travel. However, we have also seen an explosion of garbage from non-recyclable food containers, discarded masks, etc.

Let us create momentum and make the “new norm” greener and healthier for everyone!

“We cannot turn back time. But we can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts. We are the generation that can make peace with nature. Let’s get active, not anxious. Let’s be bold, not timid.”

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April GAM cost is $0.926 billion. This is a 4% increase from the March GAM cost ($0.894 billion).

Energy@Work believes that a greater focus on GAM cost will result in a reduction in the monthly cost. This begins with better understanding where the money is going and the “why”?

GAM monthly cost is largely Nuclear (OPG and non-OPG). However, conservation continues to be reported as the reason for GAM. Another ‘why?’ question that remains unanswered.

Interested in Global Adjustment? Feel free to contact us for more information.

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A mid-tier success story of epic proportion!

The ieso 2020 report highlighted the challenges that mid-tier properties face.  However, the Madison team demonstrates the value of an Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) in achieving verified electricity savings.
 
Since the implementation of their E-MAP, 90 Eglinton E saved 797,892 kWh for a cost savings of $141,939. This is equivalent to the annual electricity use of 82 Ontario homes over a year!

Toronto Hydro provided the third-party verification that ESG reporting looks for.
 
Congratulations to the Madison Team:

• Gordon Smith, Property Manager

• Victor Dang, Operations Manager

• Andre James, Building Operator

(PS: We are looking forward to hearing more good news from the Madison team- coming soon 😊)

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Stay tuned, stay connected and stay safe!

We appreciate to hear your thoughts and welcome your feedback on how we can improve or include other areas of interest to you: Please email: Requests@Energy-Efficiency.com

Thank You:
- Energy@Work

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90 Eglinton Ave E: A Mid-Tier Success Story of Epic Proportion!

The Process: E-MAP

Management & Operations meet monthly to review performance, utility use and achieve results as part of the:
Energy Management Action Plan:
(E-MAP)

Teamwork provides on-going support needed to improve and without comprising safety, tenant comfort or equipment reliability.

Results and Benefits

Toronto Hydro verified Savings of 727,892 kWh!

Equivalent to 82 homes’ annual electricity use with a value of $142,000!

The team’s collective commitment to Operational Excellence made this possible!

The Players

Management: Providing top level support
            Gordon Smith, Property Manager
            Victor Dang, Operation Manager

Operators:  Building’s “Eyes and ears”
            Andre James, Building Operator

Energy@Work: E-MAP Coach

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Energy@Work's April Newsletter

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In March 2020, Energy@Work compared weekend electricity use, pre and post COVID, across 131 commercial offices as part of our annual Beyond Earth Hour Challenge for BOMA Toronto.

We were surprised to see only an 11% average electricity reduction despite the 90%+ occupancy reduction. 

• This led to a series of BOMA workshops exploring electricity use during the heating and cooling seasons across 33 commercial offices, all of which are enrolled in a monthly Energy Management Action Plan, targeting, and achieving utility improvements.

• The series concluded with a summary of HVAC best practices based on ASHRAE suggestions as well as from other credible sources.

• This effort prompted the above self-assessment tool and guide with support from NRCan and technical experience from Michel Parent, Technosim.

When we started to work on this tool, ASHRAE’s position on HVAC airborne transmission was:
“sufficiently likely”

However, on April 5th, 2021 ASHRAE revised their position to say:

The Tool can be downloaded for free off the NRCan website: NRCan HVAC Self-Assessment Tool (pdf)

If you have questions, comments or concerns – please feel free to reach out to us.

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Join Energy@Work in celebrating Earth Day: April 22nd, 2021!

This year, Earth Day provides a special opportunity to look back on how the world has changed during the pandemic. We realize that we are all in this together and must work together. Now is the time to look at how we can have an impact on climate change as we move into the “new normal”.

“Together, we can prevent the coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction. Together, we can Restore Our Earth”

There are virtual events taking place all over the world, in many languages and for all age ranges! Take a look and register for an event here: Earth Day 2021

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A new opportunity to improve efficiency is available through a carbon price of $170/ Tonne by 2030. The government plans to increase the carbon price by $15/Tonne annually, beginning in 2023. This will act as a catalyst in helping change behaviour and reduce carbon.

Although controversial, there is now a Carbon Price that can help bring us together in solving the climate challenge. We have clear and increasing evidence that climate change is real. Most of us have seen evidence, in our own lifetime, of these changes. For instance, the abandoned chairlift pole from the “ski hill” on the south side of Lawrence, east of the Don Valley Parkway, is still visible.

• Do we need to drive to the store, or can we walk or take a bike?

• Taking our own reusable bag eliminates the need for plastic bags.

• Reusable water bottles ensure that we stay hydrated without needing to purchase plastic water bottles.

• Our favourite, being energy efficiency geeks, is turning off the lights when it is not needed and is one of the reasons, we support the holiday challenge as well as Beyond Earth Hour Challenge with BOMA Toronto.

1) Take your Gym to work:
Together, with the downtown BIA, we look at the benefits of cycling, with safety tips

2) Eliminate Phantom Power:
This short video shares how an extra minute can help reduce the electricity that is wasted by offering no practical value

3) Business Case:
IBM- this classic video demonstrates how energy efficiency and good business can be one and the same

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March GAM cost is $0.894 billion. This is an 80% increase from February’s GAM ($0.498 billion).
 
Mark your calendars, BOMA Toronto is hosting its annual Global Adjustment (GA) Workshop on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021 to address the largest charge on your monthly electricity bill. Registration available soon

Energy@Work is speaking at the workshop and will address the importance of the 2 Decisions:
Decision #1: To be Class A or B on June 15th and need to advise the utility
Decision #2: What is your plan going forward as a Class A or B account, aka what is your strategy?

Contact us at requests@energy-efficiency.com for more information.

GAM costs are largely Nuclear (OPG and non-OPG). However, conservation continues to be reported as the reason for GAM when it is less than 3%. Another ‘why?’ question that remains unanswered.

Energy@Work’s services includes a “GAM coach”. We maintain the importance of developing a GAM Strategy for either Class A or Class B to win the (GAM)e. Our collective savings by choosing the appropriate strategy is well over $10 million.

Contact us for more information

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The AEEGTA Wrench of the Year award acknowledges and celebrates the individuals that best exemplify the spirit of hard work, hands-on responsibility, and determination that results in the successful implementation of an energy efficiency project.

The award specifically rewards on-site facility personnel that are often overlooked in major efficiency projects but whose hard work and attention are key to successful project implementation.

Our Congratulations goes out to James Hrenyk, 2020 Recipient of the AEEGTA Wrench Award. James’ efforts at 4711 Yonge Street, Managed by Menkes Property Management was significant. James’s openness to new ideas and using best practices were tested during the monthly Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) meetings. This resulted in positive impacts that were recorded and reported, and electricity savings were verified by Toronto Hydro.

James was excellent to work with and a true example of going above and beyond for efficiency projects! For example, James volunteered to ‘BETA Test’ NRCan HVAC Self-assessment tool to provide us valuable insights and suggestions– thank you and congratulations James!

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We thank everyone that has provided feedback and for your comments: positive and negative!

We appreciate to hear your thoughts and welcome your feedback on how we can improve or include other areas of interest to you: Please email: Requests@Energy-Efficiency.com

Thank You:
- Energy@Work

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Energy@Work's March Newsletter

Berkeley Castle successfully completed the 4-year OPSaver project, with verified electricity savings from Toronto Hydro, including savings from 2020! Total monetary benefits from electricity savings ALONE reached $342,000 over 44 months with 33% NET electricity savings in the last year.

Berkeley Castle is a historic commercial office building in downtown Toronto. Berkeley Castle’s management team has a commitment to reducing energy use and adopted Energy@Work’s Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) in 2017. This led to these verified savings as well as earning ENERGY STAR Building Certification. Along the way, we also won the 2020 Tenant Collaborative Excellence Award! Berkeley maintained their efforts throughout the pandemic and continues to improve.

COVID-19 struck like a thunderbolt and impacted everyone. Commercial offices had a sudden drop in occupancy starting in March 2020, but electricity did not have the same % reduction because buildings had to remain open. Energy@Work maintained the Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) to sustain these efficiencies. However, measuring savings from the approved electricity baseline to determine new savings appeared impossible.

We knew that the implemented energy efficiency strategies were successful and were maintained. However, how can we quantify these savings? The case study below, from the Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO), describes the process and the steps that were taken.

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BOMA Toronto’s annual Beyond Earth Hour Challenge is taking place this weekend:

There is still time to participate! BOMA Toronto Beyond Earth Hour Registration

If you have any questions, we are always here to help! Ask Lisa to email us directly.

Inspiration for BOMA BEYOND EARTH HOUR came from the WWF Earth Hour. WWF Earth Hour is on Saturday March 27th from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM with more information on the importance of raising awareness, see:
WWF’s Earth Hour Video!

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This is a 44% decrease from January’s GAM ($0.88 billion), and a 55% decrease compared to December 2020:

The $500,000 Million drop is great, but will this be sustained? Should there be an even higher reduction?

Energy@Work wants to see a greater focus on GA cost reduction and also who to speak to ask “why?”. Yes, the Hourly Ontario Energy Price (HOEP) was higher, which accounts for part of the answer but does not provide a complete explanation.

The historical GA costs were last updated in November 2020. This breakdown clearly shows that GA costs are largely Nuclear (OPG and non-OPG). However, conservation continues to be reported as the reason for GA. Another ‘why’ question remains unanswered.

Energy@Work’s services includes a “GAM coach”. We maintain the importance of a GAM Strategy for either Class A or Class B to win the (GAM)e. Our collective savings have exceeded $10 Million.

We assist in evaluating Class A eligibility and assess potential strategies for both Class A and B.

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We thank everyone that has provided feedback and for your comments: positive and negative!

We appreciate to hear your thoughts and welcome your feedback on how we can improve or include other areas of interest to you: Please email: Requests@Energy-Efficiency.com

Thank You:
- Energy@Work

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COVID Pivot: Energy@Work has realized and quantified energy savings during the pandemic!

The COVID-19 Pandemic has thrown some curveballs to most businesses over the past year and Energy@Work is no exception. We had no doubt that the energy efficiency measures were successfully lowering energy use in commercial buildings but the difficulty was in quantifying the savings.

Berkeley Castle is the first property to have savings verified by Toronto Hydro for the pandemic. In 2017, Berkeley enrolled into a pay-for-performance incentive program (OPSaver) which focused on low and no-cost operational improvements. The program required an Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) and Measurement and Verification (M&V) plan compliant with IPMVP guidelines. Verified electricity efficiency reductions are rewarded with an annual incentive of $0.025 /kWh. Annual electricity savings from 2017 to December 2020 were verified and Berkeley Castle received the requested incentive. Energy@Work successfully submitted Berkeley Castle’s results in March, 2021.

Click here to visit EVO’s site and read more about EVOs approaches and methods and our application of the process!