higher efficiency steam and hot water boilers. New low-carbon electric boilers are also used in some buildings such as the All Ranks Dining Hall and General Strange Hall Fitness Centre. Photo: supplied
Shilo Stag Media
A financial reinvestment of $21.5 million into 59 Canadian Forces Base Shilo buildings is driving more than $500,000 in annual energy cost savings, the Department of National Defence (DND) released on Aug. 26.
In a statement, DND, with partners Public Services Procurement Canada, CFB Shilo, and MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd., announced that the three-year CFB Shilo Energy Efficiency Project, which has been underway since the summer of 2021, has been “successfully completed.”
The project has resulted in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 34 per cent baseline levels, which is 2,262 tonnes in equivalent carbon dioxide adding a total savings of $506,731.
“Some of the energy-efficient solutions deployed throughout the Base, like the new LED lighting, are obvious. However, the real changes are less visible and located behind closed doors in building mechanical rooms,” Sherri Fisher, senior project technologist for the Real Property Operations Unit West (RPOUW) at CFB Shilo, said.
“This work involved the creation of 14 new heating plants across major Base buildings, allowing the 60-year-old central heating plant and underground steam distribution system to be decommissioned.”
Fisher said the new heating plants deliver the same heating capacity as the previous steam central heating system, but they are more efficient and are a fraction of the cost.
“Most of the new heating plants now use hot water instead of steam, which in turn reduces the amount of high-carbon natural gas needed for that heating energy.”
In several buildings, electric hot water boilers have been installed to provide a backup heating source that can fully take advantage of Manitoba’s low-carbon electricity grid.
Fisher said that in addition to the new heating systems, a significant investment was also made in the Base’s building automation system and smart metering for electricity and natural gas utilities. These changes will allow DND to see utility consumption patterns in near real-time for 48 buildings.
“Other work included replacement of aging air handling equipment and domestic hot water tanks which not only reduced energy consumption but also addressed deferred maintenance.”
“Projects like Shilo’s Energy Efficiency Project are another proud achievement for RPOU(W) Det Shilo and ADM(IE) in support of DND’s Defence Energy and Environment Strategy and Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. It is a prime example of how DND is
supporting the department’s 2050 net-zero goals, which include energy savings and significant CO2 reductions, ” the statement reads.
a result that is in line with DND’s commitment to reduce annual GHG emissions by 40 per cent by 2025. (Image: supplied)