Project Address

550 Front Street West, Toronto, ON

Key Contacts

Dean Brigham, Terra Energy Management Services Inc.

Project Background

550 Front Street West is a residential complex in downtown Toronto that comprises 196 suites on eight floors. The facility contains a gymnasium, a roof top patio and a private courtyard behind the main tower.

Challenge

The Board of Directors at 550 Front Street sought to enhance resident comfort in the facility, while substantially reducing operating costs. With the goal of maintaining current light levels, increasing resident safety and a long term reduction in operating costs and energy consumption, 550 Front Street, their property manager, and Brookfield Residential Services Ltd. collaborated with Terra Energy Management Services Inc., Enbridge and the City of Toronto’s Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) to achieve this goal.

Solution and Results

After conducting a pre-project study into the garage, stairwells, and common area lighting and ventilation systems, the corporation and Terra Energy Management Services developed a program that would upgrade the existing hallway ventilation system with a variable speed drive technology designed to provide for reduced air flow in “off” peak periods of time to substantially reduce the gas consumption in the building.

Corridor and stairwell lights were de-lamped based upon foot candle lighting measures taken and garage lighting was retrofitted with new, energy efficient T8 lamps and ballasts for maximized savings. The existing garage exhaust system was operating 24/7 and the installation of a carbon monoxide sensor system now allows the fans to run much less frequently, based upon data logged information.  Both the BBP and Enbridge were consulted to access the energy savings incentives that their programs offer, enabling the Condominium to do more with its budget.

The retrofit of the garage lighting and the de-lamping of the corridors and stairwells resulted in a 59.7% reduction in electricity consumption, or 166,114kWh per year. The installation of the variable speed drive on the make-up air unit resulted in a reduction in annual gas consumption for the building by 29.6%, or 20,936 M³ per year.

“Overall, the residents will realize a substantial reduction in common element costs through annual utility consumption reductions, along with reduced operational costs on the operating equipment,” added Dean Brigham, Terra Energy Management Services Inc. “With new lamps and ballasts in the garage and removal of excessive lamps in corridors and stairwells, the property management company will realize substantial reduction in operating costs, allowing the savings to be passed along to the residents.”

Through joint efforts with Terra Energy Management services, Brookfield has facilitated the identification of over $1.16 million worth of first year savings for their clients.  In total, these projects have accessed over $332,000 in incentive payments and have achieved CO₂ reductions of 204 tonnes.

Project Snapshot

• Project Cost: $37,163.50
• Annual electricity savings: 166,114 kWh
• Annual natural gas savings: 20,936 M³
• Annual cost savings: $29,152
• Annual CO₂ savings: 204 tonnes
• Incentive received: BBP $13,493.93
• Payback period: less than 1 year

About the City of Toronto

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and livability for all its residents.

For more information please contact:

Better Buildings Partnership
Tel: 416-392-1500
bbp@toronto.ca

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