Assessing the Feasibility of Undertaking a Deep Energy Retrofit of a Fire Station in Vaughan

The City of Vaughan will conduct a study to assess the technical and financial feasibility of undertaking a deep energy retrofit at Fire Station 7-1. The city’s Facility Management Department identified the fire station, which was built in 1980, as being in need of renewal. This initiative aims to meet or exceed GMF’s 30% energy reduction target for building retrofits. The project’s goal is for the fire station to be retrofitted as either a net zero energy, zero carbon or passive house facility. A deep energy retrofit would reduce maintenance and operations costs for the fire station and help extend the facility’s lifespan. It would also provide an opportunity to raise awareness and educate residents about energy efficiency, sustainable energy generation and climate change mitigation. The study will use energy modelling to determine the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impact of different retrofit and design options. These will include deep energy reductions measures and the addition of an on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) system to generate energy. The project team will consider lifecycle costs and provide a breakdown of incremental costs for achieving each of the three energy performance standards compared to the expected costs of a code-compliant renovation. The proposed study aligns with the City of Vaughan’s Corporate Energy Management Plan to eliminate GHG emissions from building operations by 2050. It is also linked to its Green Directions Vaughan document, which calls for the city to pursue corporate green building standards and demonstrate its commitment to sustainability. Innovative aspect(s): Although a number of new net-zero fire halls have been studied and constructed across Canada, this study would be one of the first to focus on the retrofit of an existing fire hall to meet a deep energy reduction standard such as net zero energy, zero carbon or passive house. Replicability: This project has good potential for replication in municipalities across Canada that are looking to implement deep energy retrofits of existing municipal facilities. (Project description from original funding application)