Building Energy and Emission Retrofits, EPC Pilot Project

With over 350 buildings within its corporate portfolio, building energy retrofits are a significant component of Halifax Regional Municipality’s (HRM) Local Action Plan (LAP). This project comprises detailed feasibility studies and assessments for the first five buildings: Metro Transit Building, Eric Spicer 911 Centre, City Hall and North and Main libraries. It is estimated that, within a ten year guaranteed Energy Performance Contract, up to 30 per cent reduction in heating and electricity consumption could be achieved for the Metro Transit Building, resulting in a total carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emission of 9,800 tonnes (T)/year. For the Eric Spicer 911 Centre, it is estimated that heating oil and electricity consumption can be reduced by up to 20 per cent for a total CO2e emission of 2,680 T/year. For City Hall and North and Main libraries, it is estimated that electricity consumption can be reduced by 25 per cent resulting in a total CO2e emission reduction of 3,600 T/year. In addition, field trials and a laboratory testing program will be conducted with different mixes of biodiesel fuel to determine the viability of using 100 per cent biodiesel fuel (B100) in HRM’s building portfolio. It is estimated that the annual GHG reduction for B100 biodiesel compared to #2 fuel oil is 3,000 T.