Camosun's Energy Project
Why Energy Efficiency?
As the need for energy increases on campus (it now represents 1.5% of our total global budget) the need to be more energy efficient becomes very important.
Camosun’s Energy Consumption for 2006 represented 9,726,931 kWh (kilowatt hours) of Electricity and 39,581 GJ (gigajoules) of Natural Gas consumption – that’s enough energy to power a small city! Unfortunately, along with energy use comes Greenhouse Gas Emissions and this past year resulted in 2,242 tonnes into our surrounding air.
If we meet our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 200 tonnes/yr we will have helped save 170 acres of forest or taken 40 vehicles off the road per year!
The Camosun Energy Project is about becoming more efficient in our energy practices and reducing energy consumption. It’s about promoting a college-wide shift to a more sustainable behaviour amongst our students, staff and faculty and taking pride in being part of the larger movement to collectively curb climate change.
Our Energy Project Charter Goals:
• To achieve a cost savings of 10% of 2005 levels ($98,750/yr) by the year 2012.
• To reduce electrical and natural gas energy consumption intensity in both campuses by 10% of 2005 levels by the year 2012.
• To reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity of 8.5% (200 tonnes/yr) from its 2005 levels by the year 2012.
Are we making progress? – You bet!
The latest energy management assessment is in from our funding partner BC Hydro Power Smart and reports that we are well on our way to improving and saving in our energy management practices. The report, based on the global One-2-Five energy ranking system, provides us with a benchmarking system against other institutions who have also committed to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Highlights reveal:
- Notable progress in improving our energy management business practices and moving up to a 2 Star level;
- 84% improvement over our previous benchmark rating in just a 16 month time frame;
- Possible annual energy savings of $35,000 to $70,000 if we continue to incorporate energy management best practices.
The five critical areas for improvement have been identified and, over the next year of the project, we will be focusing on planning, awareness, innovation, new technologies, monitoring and reporting.
Energy Project Team
The Team is charged with meeting the goals to reduce energy consumption and create energy awareness among the Camosun community and to support, overall, the global environmental movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Project Charter
Peter Lockie, Executive Sponsor
Bob Landell, Energy Manager
Brian Calvert, Building Engineer
Anna Colangeli, Environmental Technology
Rob Peressini, Information Technology Services
Don Gilbert, Information Technology Services
Doug McCurdy, Purchasing Services
David Sovka, Marketing & Communications
Mike Nunn, Building Operations
Angie Bowles, Energy Awareness Coordinator
Got an energy initiative idea? Want to get involved? Please contact us: energyawareness@camosun.bc.ca
