Through a cost-recoverable method known as Energy Performance Contracting, the University of British Columbia (UBC) undertook an enormous energy and water savings initiative over a three-year period. The aim of the project, Ecotrek, was to reduce University energy and water use, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Ecotrek is the largest project of its kind in Canada, and involved rebuilding and retrofitting the infrastructure of nearly 300 academic buildings. New technologies replaced aging infrastructure in order to reduce the amount of energy and water consumed by one of the largest campuses in Canada.MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd., a leading national Energy Service Company developed and delivered this project through an Energy Performance Contract. (MCW/CES provides single-source engineered energy management solutions to the Canadian building industry.)The Ecotrek project took three years to complete, at a cost of $35 million. Ecotrek improved comfort for building occupants, reduced core campus energy use by more than 20%, and reduced water use by 30%. With the completion of construction, UBC will be saving at least $2.6 million each year in electricity, steam, and water costs, paying for itself through accrued savings. To date, the project has already saved $3.8 million in energy costs, has reduced particulate emissions by 80% and has reduced GHG emissions by about 15.000 tonnes per year, or 25% of the baseline year in 1999. Specifics of the project include:? The lighting systems in 120 buildings were retrofitted with energy efficient components, saving considerable electrical energy and improving the light conditions for building occupants. ? Comprehensive repair and replacement to over 5 kilometers of condensate pipe was undertaken, to ensure the steam used in each building returns to the central plant for re-use. ? Exterior road and pathway lighting was replaced with the campus' new standard of exterior lighting. This completed a change-out of the old out-dated lighting, to the new modern and efficient standard. ? Major modifications to the Central Steam Plant reduced air-polluting nitrogen oxide emissions by 80%. ? The Building Management System (BMS) now automates approx. 90% of the academic campus. The BMS monitors and controls heating, cooling, and ventilation within each building. This allows operators and technicians to troubleshoot, and adjust any necessary functions anywhere on campus. It also allows systems to operate to match the exact occupancy of each building. This means UBC can save energy during unoccupied periods such as nights, weekends, and holidays. ? More than 3,000 low-consumption plumbing fixtures were installed in over 250 buildings, reducing water consumption by 30%. ? Drafty doors and windows in approx. 200 buildings were sealed in order to conserve heat within each building. ? Ecotrek funded the cost of installing photovoltaic solar panels at the Fred Kaiser building, offsetting some of the electricity needs of the building. ? As part of the project - and to ensure continued success and sustainable energy savings - MCW/CES has provided a range of training to Land & Building Services departmental staff. training on newly installed equipment and systems, to technical training on the operation and maintenance of major building components. MCW/CES are also offering the opportunity to attend accredited courses on the energy-efficient operation of buildings.

Through a cost-recoverable method known as Energy Performance Contracting, the University of British Columbia was able to undertake the enormous energy and water savings initiative that took place over a three-year period. Energy Performance Contracting is a unique business arrangement whereby the guaranteed energy savings are brought about through comprehensive building upgrades. An EPC is delivered through an Energy Management Service Agreement (EMSA) between an Energy Management Firm and the client.In an Energy Management Service Agreement, a private Energy Management Firm (EMF) designs, installs, and finances upgrades to the environmental systems and operating practices within existing facilities, substantially reducing their energy consumption and overall operating costs. The EMF Guarantees these savings. The EMSA is structured so that project cost repayments to the EMF are contingent upon the actual or stipulated level of savings achieved. The cost savings produced by the project match the project cost repayments over the Contract Period. As such, a performance contract pays for itself. Since the EMF is guaranteeing these savings, any shortfall in savings must be made up by the EMF. Thus, it is in the EMF?S interest to maximize the energy savings. This translates into increased dollar savings for Facility Owners.

To date Ecotrek has saved:?$1.5 million worth of water ? enough to meet the needs of 29,000 people for a year. ?$590,000 in electricity costs ? enough to heat 1,617 Canadian homes for a year. ?$1.8 million in steam heating ? enough to heat 3,171 homes for a year. ?11,625 tonnes of GHG emissions ? the equivalent of one vehicle driving 1,000 times around the world.While the energy savings and emissions savings to date are impressive, Ecotrek will continue to save $2.6 million annually in energy and water costs.Every year Ecotrek will save enough:?Electricity to heat the equivalent of 1,562 homes ?Steam to heat the equivalent of 2,084 homes ?Water to meet the needs of 11,785 people ?GHG emissions ? equivalent to taking 2,500 vehicles off the road.

Ecotrek was part of UBC's overall comprehensive sustainability strategy. As one of Canada's largest teaching and research institutions, UBC is addressing sustainability issues in a variety of areas, including alternative transportation, green buildings, and reducing waste. This is achieved by creating and implementing a sustainability strategy, complete with targets and action plans. Ecotrek was one of the largest and most successful initiatives yet, and can act as inspiration, example, etc. for similar projects on other university, corporate and other campuses around the world.

To date the project has already saved $3.8 million in energy costs, and has reduced GHG emissions by 80%. Please see above for more details.

Please see above.

Through significant improvements in energy efficiency and some use of renewable energy technologies, the University of British Columbia has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent and lowered emissions of other pollutants. It is important to note that this campus is in a relatively cold climate, where energy demand could be quite high. The total population of UBC today is about 11,000, and the student population is expected to grow to 28,000 by 2021. Thus, the potential direct impacts of this project are significant. The advances made here will influence the thinking of all students, faculty and other staff, as well as visitors who pass through the campus each day, causing a ripple effect. This project provides practical lessons/educational experiences to ensure that these clean technologies and advances can be widely known. The fact that this project has been carried out on such a large university makes a significant statement - a large portion of Canada's educational infrastructure has been transformed to "green-ness".Most significantly, this project shows what can be done in economic manner, in very short time period, and on a very large scale. It demonstrates the potential for significant energy savings and use of clean energy on other university and corporate campuses, in communities or even cities around the world, if the will is there and the right policies are put in place.