Elizabeth Rouse
August Newsletter: News and Views
Elizabeth Rouse
July Newsletter: News and Views
Elizabeth Rouse
June Newsletter: News and Views
Elizabeth Rouse
May Newsletter: News and Views
Elizabeth Rouse
April Newsletter: News and Views

Retrofitting History: 1931 Manhattan High-Rise Adopts Modern Heat Pumps for Decarbonization

A 17-story building in Manhattan, constructed in 1931, is setting a precedent with its proactive approach to meeting the strict emissions standards set by New York City's Local Law 97. This legislation requires significant emission reductions from buildings larger than 25,000 square feet by 2030, imposing hefty fines for non-compliance.

In anticipation of these regulations, the building's management has opted to replace outdated heating and cooling systems with state-of-the-art heat pumps. This move avoids the simpler but less efficient approach of like-for-like system replacements, which would not meet long-term sustainability goals. The new system integrates both air and water source heat pumps and introduces a method to capture and reuse waste heat.

This strategic upgrade is expected to decrease the building's energy usage by 25% compared to traditional setups and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70% relative to 2019 levels by 2030. As the local energy grid becomes cleaner, these reductions could increase to 90% by 2035. Notably, this transformation will help the building avoid over $200,000 in annual emissions fines starting in 2030.

Moreover, the innovative thermal circulatory system installed as part of the retrofit is anticipated to enhance comfort for occupants, representing a significant improvement over the old system. The commitment to a more complex but far more efficient system exemplifies a strategic, long-term approach to building retrofitting that considers environmental impact, operational costs, and occupant comfort. This project serves as a leading example for urban sustainability, demonstrating the substantial benefits of embracing advanced energy solutions over conventional methods. This project also demonstrates the overlooked potential for sustainability in historic buildings, where innovative solutions are often prematurely deemed impractical.

Read CleanTechnica’s full article here

In a project closer to home, the Historic Berkeley Castle, managed by Linda Leistner, continues its journey by improving energy efficiency and sustainability efforts. Recently earning the 2024 ENERGY STAR Building Certification for another year. Her Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) has demonstrated and sustained the 30% economic opportunity which is typically available to others as well.

Discover more about Berkeley Castle's ongoing improvements in our case study below.
Read more: Case Study: Berkeley Castle's E-MAP Success!

Monitoring and Understanding Your Data: The Key to Meeting Aggressive GHG Limits

Following in the footstep of New York City’s by-law 97, the City of Vancouver is leading the charge in GHG reduction. A new by-law will set a fine of $300 per tonne of GHG emissions for buildings exceeding 25 kgCO2/m²/year (2.3 kgCO2/ft²/year), effective 2026. This initiative aims to push buildings towards greater energy efficiency and lower carbon footprints.

Toronto is following a similar path. Mandatory reporting of Energy and Water was introduced in 2024 and discussions are underway on performance standards.
City of Toronto: Emissions Performance Standards

Interestingly, buildings we support through our Energy Management Action Plan (E-MAP) service achieve an average emission of just 1.8 kgCO2/ft²/year. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to helping clients optimize their systems and make significant improvements with energy efficiency.

Explore the details of Vancouver’s GHG intensity limits here: 
City of Vancouver GHG Limits

Share Your Successes: Nominate Your Energy Efficiency Project for Energy Manager Canada Honours Awards

Energy@Work is excited to share the 2024 Energy Manager Canada (EM) Honours awards program. Our Managing Partner, Scott Rouse, received the Energy Manager of the Year award in 2023. This recognition reflects the importance of acknowledging and sharing innovative projects within the industry, and we encourage others to showcase their impactful work.
 

Nominations are completed online at energy-manager.ca/awards

,

May’s Global Adjustment Mechanism (GAM)e Cost: $0.70 Billion

,

In May 2024, the GA cost was $0.70 billion. Which is a 7% increase from April 2024 GA cost of $0.65 billion.

The Class B March GA rate was $77.63/MWh ($0.078/kWh). The Average HOEP for May was $28.4/MWh ($0.028/kWh)

With these drastic monthly swings in cost, Energy@Work continues to ask “why?”. We provide a monthly review of GAM costs, however, the reason for the cost as well as the vast cost fluctuation remains unclear.

Energy@Work’s services include a “GAM coach”. We maintain the importance of a GAM Strategy for Class A and Class B in order to win the (GAM)e. Our collective savings have exceeded $10 million, and we look forward to continuing to assist.

Monthly Feature: City of Toronto By-Law 367 (EWRB) Has Extended the Reporting Deadline to October 31st!

The new EWRB requirement for 2024, under the Toronto By-law Chapter 367, that requires buildings exceeding 50,000 sqft to report has been extended to October 31st, 2024. 

Buildings over 100,000 sqft must report through a licensed professional.

For more information see the benchmarking video here and for assistance in reporting, contact Energy@Work.

Ontario Condominium Managers Vs Property Managers in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs): Understanding the Difference

In Ontario, the roles and regulatory requirements for property managers and condominium managers differ significantly, reflecting their responsibilities and the nature of the properties they manage. This distinction is crucial, particularly when discussing regulations like the annual Ontario Regulation 506/18: Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB), which often bring these roles into focus. We have broken down the main differences to better understand these roles.
 
Focus and Responsibilities

Property Managers oversee residential, mainly rental-unit, properties. Their primary responsibilities include leasing, rent collection, property maintenance, and tenant management. Their goal is to ensure the property is well-maintained, profitable, and operates smoothly.
 
Condominium Managers, on the other hand, are regulated; they manage condominium corporations focusing on the communal aspects of condo living. This includes maintaining common areas, enforcing community rules, and managing shared services. They work closely with condo boards, attending meetings and focusing on the unique needs and regulations of the condominium community.  Their knowledge extends to the general operations and maintenance of the building, e.g.: HVAC, elevator functions, financial management etc.
 
Licensing and Regulatory Requirements

Property Managers in Ontario do not require a specific license to manage properties unless they engage in real estate transactions on behalf of others. However, many pursue professional development and certifications through courses offered by institutions like the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) or the Institute of Housing Management to enhance their qualifications.
 
Condominium Managers face stricter regulatory requirements. Since November 1, 2017, they must be licensed under the Condominium Management Services Act (CMSA). To obtain a license, they must meet criteria set by the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario (CMRAO), which includes completing educational programs, gaining experience, and passing examinations.
 
Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
For condominium managers, the CMRAO mandates ongoing education through the CPE program. From the 2023-24 licensing cycle, General Licensees must accumulate at least ten (10) CPE credits annually in categories such as Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Physical Building, Building Operations and Maintenance, Legal and Ethics, and Finance. This requirement ensures they remain current with industry standards and regulations.
 
Moreover, all licensees must adhere to a Code of Ethics and participate in CMRAO-approved learning activities, which are updated in real time, as they are approved.  This continuous professional development supports their ability to manage effectively within the evolving landscape of condominium governance.

Ontario Secures Landmark Battery Storage Procurement to Meet Future Energy Demands

Ontario has made a significant leap in securing its energy future with the largest battery storage procurement in Canadian history. Announced on May 9, 2024, by the Ministry of Energy, this move is part of Ontario's strategy to enhance clean energy infrastructure and ensure long-term reliability and sustainability.

The procurement round secured 2,195 megawatts (MW) of capacity, enough to meet the peak electricity demand of 2.2 million homes. This includes 1,784 MW of clean energy storage from ten project. With this addition, Ontario's total storage fleet will reach 2,916 MW, surpassing the initial target of 2,500 MW.

Expanding the clean electricity system has been crucial in attracting large-scale manufacturing projects to Ontario. "Our government has now broken records once again by completing the largest battery storage procurement in Canadian history," said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. This ensures a reliable supply of clean energy, supporting economic growth and job creation.

The procurement also includes 411 MW of natural gas and on-farm biogas generation, ensuring reliability during extreme weather conditions. This balanced approach follows advice from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

The IESO's 2024 Annual Planning Outlook forecasts a 60% increase in electricity demand over the next 25 years. The newly procured resources, expected to be operational by 2028, will be crucial in meeting this demand while maintaining a clean, reliable, and affordable electricity system.
Looking ahead, Ontario plans to continue expanding its clean energy infrastructure through various initiatives, including advancing nuclear power projects, prioritizing new transmission lines, launching energy efficiency programs, and planning further procurements for non-emitting energy resources.

Ontario's completion of the largest battery storage procurement marks a milestone in its journey towards a sustainable energy future, ensuring economic growth, attracting investments, and providing reliable, clean, and affordable power for years to come. For more information, visit Ontario News.

New York’s Local Law 97: A Bold Move and Its Implications for Ontario's EWRB Mandate and Toronto By-law 367

As cities worldwide intensify efforts to curb carbon emissions, New York City’s Local Law 97 has set a new benchmark for building energy efficiency. This law, part of the city's Climate Mobilization Act, targets significant emission reductions from buildings, which contribute a major share of the city's carbon footprint. Ontario's Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) mandate and Toronto’s By-law 367 are efforts that reflect a similar commitment to sustainability.

Local Law 97: An Overview
Local Law 97, effective from January 1, 2024, imposes stringent emission caps on approximately 50,000 buildings in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams' proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 allocates $4 million and adds 36 new full-time staffers to the enforcement team, significantly boosting the city’s capacity to ensure compliance. This brings the total enforcement team to 58 members, more than doubling the previous number. This investment underscores the city's dedication to achieving an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, focusing on buildings that account for two-thirds of these emissions.

Enforcement and Impact
With the additional staff and funding, New York City aims to rigorously enforce Local Law 97, ensuring that building owners take necessary actions to meet emission targets. Buildings that exceed their carbon caps face fines of $268 per ton of carbon dioxide over the limit, potentially amounting to tens of thousands of dollars annually. This robust enforcement mechanism is designed to compel building owners to invest in energy efficiency measures and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Ontario’s EWRB Mandate and Toronto By-law 367: A Unified Approach
Ontario’s EWRB mandate, established under Ontario Regulation 506/18, requires large buildings to report their energy and water usage annually. This initiative aims to enhance energy efficiency by promoting transparency and accountability. Building owners must submit data to the Ministry of Energy by July 1st, which is then published to create benchmarks for energy performance.

Toronto By-law 367 requires large buildings to report their energy and water usage. This by-law mandates that buildings over 100,000 square feet submit annual their energy consumption to the city. This will help identify opportunities for energy savings and operational enhancements, which compliments the city's TransformTO initiative, aiming to cut community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

Local Law 97 serves as an exemplar for Ontario and
Toronto in several ways:

  • Enforcement and Staffing: New York City’s significant investment in enforcement staff highlights the importance of adequate resources. Ontario and Toronto could follow suit by ensuring sufficient funding and staffing to support the EWRB mandate and By-law 367.

  • Penalties and Compliance: The stringent penalties under Local Law 97 for exceeding emission caps emphasize the need for strict compliance mechanisms. Ontario and Toronto could consider similar penalty structures to ensure building owners adhere to energy reporting and audit requirements.

  • Transparency and Accountability: Both Local Law 97 and the EWRB mandate prioritize transparency. By making energy and water usage data publicly available, these initiatives drive accountability and motivate building owners to improve energy performance.

Ontario’s EWRB mandate and Toronto By-law 367 are vital steps towards enhancing building energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By drawing lessons from New York City’s Local Law 97, these initiatives can be further strengthened to ensure robust compliance and significant emission reductions.


As cities like New York lead the charge with comprehensive laws and dedicated enforcement, Ontario and Toronto are well-positioned to follow suit. Through collaborative efforts and sustained commitment, we can achieve our climate goals and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future. 

For more information on New York's Law 97, click here.