Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is now implementing the Smart Buildings initiative in up to 100 buildings across Canada through a phased approach over the next three years.
The announcement follows a successful pilot project that involved 13 buildings in the National Capital Region of Ottawa-Gatineau. The Smart Buildings technology that was implemented resulted in energy savings of up to 17 per cent, which translates into $1 million per year.
Once installed, the technology collects raw data from mechanical or electrical systems, analyzes it and uses the results to detect inefficiencies that can be solved right away. The government can better monitor and control mechanical, heating, cooling and lighting systems in federal buildings across the country to increase the efficiency of these systems.
Since 2015, energy saved by smart buildings is equivalent to 128 vehicles taken off the road and 496 acres of forests saved.
Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Services and a joint venture between RYCOM Corporation and Built Environment Optimisation Pty. Ltd are providing the Smart Building technology services for the federal buildings.
“The Smart Buildings initiative allows us to make a real impact by implementing innovative technologies and identifying opportunities for energy savings,” noted Steven MacKinnon, parliamentary secretary to the minister of public services and procurement. “The result is lower overall energy costs for federal buildings and a reduced carbon footprint.”
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is providing PSPC with expert advice on green building technology for this and other initiatives.
“NRC designed and performed the technology pilots and quantified both energy cost savings and GHG reductions, and from these pilots developed the technical specifications used by PSPC when selecting the Smart Buildings technology,” said NRC President Iain Stewart. “This is one of several initiatives in collaboration with PSPC to green Government of Canada operations.”
