Top B.C. energy savers recognized at FortisBC Efficiency in Action Awards

Health care, education and building industries all celebrated for their dedication to energy conservation

VANCOUVER, May 4, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, FortisBC recognized 11 B.C. organizations for their dedication to conserving energy. Through their combined efforts, the award recipients have achieved an estimated 120,000 gigajoules (GJ) of annual natural gas savings, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 1,200 gasoline-powered cars off the road.

"The energy savings achieved by this year's recipients show that working together is an effective approach to managing energy use across B.C.," said Roger Dall'Antonia, executive vice-president, customer service and technology, FortisBC. "Through careful planning, innovating and investing in energy efficiency, these organizations have reduced costs, improved business results and contributed to meeting B.C.'s climate action goals. We are honoured to be a part of their ongoing efforts."

The annual Efficiency in Action Awards recognize customers who have worked with FortisBC to achieve exceptional energy savings in building construction and in improvements to their operations. Award recipients include businesses of all sizes, municipalities and institutions. The winning projects are diverse, such as community housing, health care and residential buildings — from multi-purpose developments to single family. This year's recipients are:

• Single family project, Kingcraft Construction Ltd, Chilliwack
• Single family builder, Trio Projects Ltd., Parksville
• Multi-family project, McCallum Developments Inc., Victoria
• Small commercial project, Ankenman Marchand Architects (Newport LLW Holding), Richmond
• Large commercial project, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
• Industrial project, Saputo Dairy Products Canada G.P., Abbottsford
• Foodservice, A&W Foods Services of Canada, Inc., North Vancouver
• Public sector – municipal, City of New Westminster
• Public sector – provincial, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver
• Public sector – provincial, BC Housing, Burnaby
• Public sector – federal, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

These recipients all demonstrated a desire to save money for their business and operate more sustainably over the long term. For example, two of this year's Vancouver-based recipients, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and University of British Columbia (UBC), have worked closely with FortisBC for several years as part of an ongoing strategy to reduce energy use in their facilities.

VCH is reaching their sustainability targets by pursuing energy efficiency in their hospitals, primary care clinics, community health centres and residential care homes. They undertook a number of projects last year to achieve 8,500 GJ of natural gas savings, bringing their overall savings to 59,000 GJ since they began working closely with FortisBC in 2010.

"The environmental impact from health care facilities, operations, and services affects the health of the populations and patients they are meant to serve," said Mauricio Acosta, director, facilities management – corporate services, Lower Mainland Facilities Management, VCH. "Health care is in a position to take the first step, mitigate such an impact and act as a role model for other organizations — that's why we take a strategic approach to energy management and environmental sustainability. We identify projects with the greatest opportunities for energy efficiency and emission savings and with help from FortisBC programs, are able to make a strong business case for investment."

UBC's efforts to reduce emissions are part of its vision to be a global leader in sustainability. The university recently achieved a 33 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2007 levels. As part of this effort, UBC has worked closely with FortisBC for the past four years to find energy savings at the Vancouver campus. Initiatives range from minor efficiency measures to creative implementation of large-scale heat recovery projects. In 2016, projects completed in collaboration with FortisBC saved more than 31,000 GJ bringing the partnership's savings to approximately 60,000 GJ to date. The University is on track to increase its savings even further in 2017. 

"UBC has set itself some extremely ambitious climate targets, and working with FortisBC to implement demand-side efficiency measures is a key part of our strategy to achieve our emission reduction goals," said David Woodson, managing director of UBC Energy and Water Services.

VCH and UBC and are just two of the more than 2,500 Vancouver commercial and residential customers who participated in FortisBC incentive programs last year, collectively saving approximately 95,000 GJ of natural gas in that city alone. Overall in B.C., FortisBC provided approximately $24.4 million in incentives through conservation and energy management programs and helped customers reduce their annual electricity use by approximately 22,800 megawatt hours and their annual natural gas use by approximately 438,800 gigajoules.

For more about these winners and their award-winning projects, and how customers can receive support for energy-saving projects, visit fortisbc.com/commercialawards.

FortisBC is a regulated utility focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, electricity and propane. FortisBC employs more than 2,200 British Columbians and serves approximately 1.1 million customers in 135 B.C. communities. FortisBC owns and operates two liquefied natural gas storage facilities and four regulated hydroelectric generating plants, approximately 7,200 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines, and approximately 47,500 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc. do business as FortisBC. FortisBC is indirectly, wholly owned by Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American electric and gas utility business. Fortis Inc. shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com or www.sedar.com.

SOURCE FortisBC

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