Since 2002, SFU has been active in energy conservation, investing $5 million and realizing savings of 12 gigawatt hours annually.
The university has set an energy reduction target of 10 per cent over the next five years and, this past year, exceeded the annual target with a 3.5 per cent reduction.
In 2009, the Facilities department investigated how to improve efficiencies in the use of printers and photocopiers. Changes made will reduce electricity use by 15 per cent and the program is being extended across campus.
Recent highlights include an innovative campus outdoor lighting program and a project to fine-tune heating, cooling and ventilation systems to ensure that each system is performing as intended.
With approximately 32,000 students and 2,500 faculty and staff, Simon Fraser University reaches beyond Burnaby Mountain to campuses in downtown Vancouver and Surrey’s town centre. Managing the energy consumption of such a vast array of buildings, facilities and people is a complex task – but this has not deterred SFU from striving, year-after-year, to achieve the most energy-efficient and sustainable operations possible.
Driving this effort is SFU’s new energy policy, which will set the direction for a new energy future and move the university toward greater sustainability. Already SFU has key performance indicators in place for measuring energy and environmental performance at the organizational level and is looking at refining those indicators to the operational level of individual campus departments and systems.
In order to build a greener campus and ensure that all new buildings are as energy-efficient as possible, the university is using simulation modeling to identify efficiencies before construction. As a result of this modeling process, some new building designs have included innovative features like green roofs and green walls.
To engage the entire university community in energy conservation and sustainability, SFU has produced an online video showing how everyone can conserve through simple behavioural measures. As well, there are sustainability ambassadors in every department who promote sustainability, and an innovative initiative sustainability internet portal is raising environmental awareness through the sharing of tips and ideas.
In less than a year, Sinclar Group developed a sustainable energy management plan, hired an Energy Manager, identified internal energy champions and conducted a baseline energy management assessment.
Not satisfied with their initial energy management assessment, Sinclar Group made improvements. On their second assessment, they scored three stars, one of only two three-star organizations in the forest sector.
Sinclar Group developed energy maps to identify how each of their facilities uses energy, then developed rigorous monitoring, tracking and reporting systems to ensure accountability.
The energy champions at each mill drive energy projects and bring ideas back to a corporate energy committee for wider application.
After reaching their initial energy reduction target of 15 per cent, Sinclar Group doubled the target.
Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. is an integrated wood manufacturing company with operations throughout northern British Columbia. Despite challenges in the forest industry, they make energy efficiency investment a priority.
Sinclar Group’s energy conservation efforts are driven by a strategic goal of continuous improvement. The company takes a systematic approach, carefully monitoring consumption, making improvements and then measuring results, so that savings are not just one-time changes but are persistent.
One area that has seen remarkable progress in a short time is tackling air leaks to ensure that equipment using compressed air runs efficiently. Over a three-month period, during which Sinclar Group saved just over two gigawatt hours of annualized electricity consumption, 1.3 gigawatt hours came from addressing air leaks.
Looking ahead, Sinclar Group is planning to implement a variety of operational improvements and to launch an employee energy awareness program that will both educate employees and engage them in sharing their own energy-savings ideas.
Sinclar Group is not only a leader in energy efficiency but also in the renewable energy field. As a founding member of the Northern Bioenergy Partnership, Sinclar Group has joined with other businesses, academic institutions, government and First Nations to develop a vibrant, innovative and sustainable forest-based bioenergy industry in northern BC.
Power Smart Leaders
Excellence Award Finalist
Lee Gavel
Chief Facilities Officer/University Architect
www.sfu.ca
With approximately 32,000 students and 2,500 faculty and staff, Simon Fraser University reaches beyond Burnaby Mountain to campuses in downtown Vancouver and Surrey’s town centre. Managing the energy consumption of such a vast array of buildings, facilities and people is a complex task – but this has not deterred SFU from striving, year-after-year, to achieve the most energy-efficient and sustainable operations possible.
Excellence Award Finalist
Greg Stewart
President
www.sinclar.com
Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. is an integrated wood manufacturing company with operations throughout northern British Columbia. Despite challenges in the forest industry, they make energy efficiency investment a priority.