Energy Management
Reducing our carbon footprint ahead of schedule
Nearly 400 tonnes per year. That's how much Camosun College's Energy Management Program has reduced greenhouse gas emissions so far compared to our emissions in 2005, and we're ahead of schedule.
"At 400 tonnes, we have doubled the target we set in 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 200 tonnes per year, and in fact we're on track to reduce carbon emissions by 1000 tonnes a year by 2012," says Bob Landell, Camosun College's Power Smart Energy Manager. "We're also ahead of schedule in reducing electrical and natural gas energy consumption at our Interurban campus."
Partnering with BC Hydro to beat our targets
Camosun College has beat its targets by working closely with BC Hydro, which funds the Power Smart Energy Manager position at Camosun College.
"BC Hydro support has allowed Camosun to statistically analyze how energy use at the Interurban and Lansdowne campuses correlates with weather, enrolment, class use and other variables," says Ian Tol, Acting Director of Physical Resources. "With this precise information, we can implement projects aimed at decreasing energy use and reducing our carbon footprint - we know our projected savings can be properly verified, and not just estimated."
The projects to date, all aimed at increasing energy efficiency, include replacing gas burners with air-to-water heat pumps, installing a solar hot water heating system, and a pioneering solution for recycling welding exhaust gasses in order to save on heating bills. While the support from BC Hydro helped identify and plan these projects, the provincial government provided over $2 million to get them done.
Bob Landell
Innovative solutions help our community become more sustainable
By examining how we use energy and then implementing innovative, sustainable solutions to improve energy efficiency, Camosun is helping BC Hydro carry out its Power Smart strategy of meeting future demand for power by encouraging energy efficiency and reducing overall demand for electricity.
And by collaborating with BC Hydro, Camosun is meeting the goal set by the provincial government for all public sector organizations, including colleges and universities, to become carbon neutral by the end 2010.
But most importantly, we're reducing our carbon footprint and becoming more sustainable.
Ahead of schedule.
