by Don Hewson

The Southwestern Ontario Bioproducts Innovation Network (SOBIN) and the UWO Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus, have jointly hired two part time energy analysts to examine and report on energy issues affecting Southwestern Ontario. Energy analysts Adam Harding and Mark Coenen are in their third year of study in Lambton College’s Alternative Energy Technology program, and are due to graduate in spring 2008.

The first task for Mark and Adam was to investigate and document the resource (energy and water) conservation efforts at The Research Park. Guided by Barry Woods, Research Park property manager, there have been many electricity, natural gas, and water conservation measures implemented since 2003 and ongoing in 2007. The primary source of the raw data for Mark’s and Adam’s investigation was the billing statements which contained very accurate consumption and financial information.

Electricity consumption averages a continuous reduction from about 800,000 kW hours in year 2000 to about 550,000 kW hours at present, for a reduction of more than 30%. Conservation efforts have included efficient fluorescent lighting, elimination of incandescent lighting, and improvements in HVAC operation. For natural gas conservation, there has been an average decrease in consumption from about 2500 m3/day in year 2000 to about 1500 m3/day at present for a reduction of 40%. Conservation efforts have included improved HVAC operations, sealing building air leaks and hot water conservation.

Water is an increasingly costly resource and has also been a priority conservation target at the Research Park. Water consumption shows an average continuous reduction of about 140 m3/day in year 2000 to about 50 m3/day at present, for a reduction of more than 60%. Conservation efforts have included controlled flow washroom facilities and maintaining plumbing in excellent non-leaking condition. Water usage peaks the summer due to the water-cooled air conditioning condenser and increased seasonal staff in the Research Park.

SOBIN, The Research Park, and Lambton College are pleased to demonstrate their combined capabilities of resource conservation, energy analysis, and reporting of these analyses with the goal of supporting sustainable practices in Southwestern Ontario.

Don Hewson PhD (dhewson@researchpark.ca) is Managing Director, Industrial Liaison at the Research Park, Sarnia-Lambton Campus.

LEED PROJECTS: A CONTRACTING PERSPECTIVE
by David Lavender

Involvement in a LEED project for the first time should raise questions of responsibility, process and profitability. Contractors who have participated in LEED projects note that documentation and supervision of LEED criteria are an imp

ortant focus during a project.
They also understand that LEED experience broadens their competitive position in the marketplace where governments at all levels are requiring sustainable building practices for their facilities. Further, although they find additional effort is required, cost is minimal in the context of the entire project, and balanced by the cost of implementing LEED features. Following are the perspectives of two contractors and an engineering consultant. Project descriptions are courtesy of the Canada Green Building Council (www.cagbc.com):

ENERMODAL ENGINEERING: This Kitchener company has participated in 23 LEED certified projects in Ontario. Its experience reveals several trends in the performance of contractors on these projects.

“We’ve always done it this way,” is the response that Braden Kurczak (bkurczak@enermodal.com) of Enermodal has heard frequently from contractors. For some, this is a confirmation of the link between good construction practices and LEED requirements, and for others it is the challenge of overcoming the mindset of traditional construction practices that focus on aggressive schedules to maximize profit.

“Contractors getting involved the first time need to shift their understanding of construction from the short-term construction process to include the long-term building operation.” says Kurczak. “Contractors can overcome traditional approaches to the construction process if they invest in educating themselves about the LEED process. Participation in an integrated design process (IDP), seminars, reading the specifications, bidders meetings and onsite meetings conducted by the consultants are all designed to guide them.”

Kurczak says the key to a successful LEED project is the use of the IDP which “provides clear objectives and an understanding of the benefits of design trade-offs to achieve LEED certification among all the parties.”

A working relationship with the construction supervisor provides the site with additional guidance during construction, and the consultant with a means to monitor construction quality. “We rely heavily on the contractor to obtain documentation and the supervision of construction to achieve LEED points,” says Kurczak. Some examples he cites involve insulating without adequate weather protection, failure to bag ductwork during dust creating activities to preserve indoor air quality, and preventing non-approved material substitutions.

“A lot of bidders underbid their first LEED project to get the experience, while others overbid due to the ‘fear’ factor. Clearly, those contractors who become familiar with LEED requirements by experience or education have the advantage.”

David Lavender, B. Arch, OAA, AIA, LEED AP, is principal of David Lavender Architect serving the Sarnia-Lambton region, and Architects at Large PC, serving Southeastern Michigan. dlavender@architectsatlarge.com

UWO RESEARCH PARK GETS $15 MILLION FOR BIOINDUSTRIAL INNOVATION

SARNIA, ON - The Sarnia-Lambton Campus of the University of Western Ontario Research Park has received the federal boost it was looking for in the award of $15 million in funding for a new centre of excellence for commercialization and research.

The federal funding follows a $10 million investment by Ontario’s ministry of research and innovation announced last August. Renovation started in 2007 to upgrade and modernize 60,000 sq. ft. of existing labs and pilot plant space. Construction begins this spring on a new 75,000 sq. ft. facility. A Bioindustrial Innovation Centre at the campus will support commercialization of industrial biotechnology.

“The centre will allow bench scale research performed at public institutions and labs to be tested at a large industrial scale,” says Don Hewson, managing director, industrial liaison at the Sarnia-Lambton campus. Funding will also support collaborative and entrepreneurial projects with industry and academic partners across Canada. The goal is to attract over $1 billion in new investments by 2014.

The UWO Research Park is home to over 55 organizations and a workforce of over 2,000 across its two locations in London and Sarnia.

NIMBY FACTOR ASSESSING DEAL-BREAKER ISSUES
IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
by Ciara De Jong

Given current public concern about climate change, who could object to renewable energy? Quite a few people, actually – many of them living in places close to the planned locations of wind farms and solar-power installations.

The not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) attitude is widespread with respect to renewable energy projects. Anyone investing in such projects must understand the need to meet social and environmental requirements, or risk having the project tied up in a succession of reports and public hearings. Attention to the concerns of neighbors and other interested parties early in the process can lead to faster project approval, with a better chance for successful expansion later on.

Despite the challenges, renewable energy is an increasingly attractive investment. This is partly because of the good-works aspect; many investors like the idea of an investment that does good, provided that it also does well for their rate of return. The does well aspect is more available in part because many jurisdictions encourage renewable-energy projects by offering a higher-than-market price for the power generated. Renewable energy projects can generate carbon credits that may have monetary value under systems like the United Nations’ clean development mechanism.

Power-producing capability has also increased, with more efficient wind-power turbines and solar-power systems. Better computer models for predicting wind and solar potential help find the most effective locations for these projects.

Given the complexity of the issue, it makes practical sense in many cases to find out early in the process whether there are any obvious deal-breaker issues that will stop the project or require changes that would make it uneconomic. One way to do this is through a low-cost fatal flaw study. Environmental consultants can conduct this with minimal or no need for fieldwork, using desktop resources. They can study imagery and literature on migratory-bird flyways, known endangered-species habitats, discussions with regulators, current and planned development and other factors to see if any big issues arise. This can help investors avoid or bail out of further investment in a complete study of an area that turns out to have serious issues, and focus on projects that are likely to be successful.

In dealing with the location issue, investors must make sure that the project’s proponents are able to answer stakeholder concerns and keep the project moving forward. One of the keys to success is working with a team of environmental professionals who have experience in supporting renewable energy projects.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION: This team needs to have demonstrated skills in what may be the most important single aspect, effective community consultation. While it is a requirement of many planning processes, it can also be a benefit for project proponents by communicating positives to, and avoiding the negatives for people living near the proposed site. One such approach would be to engage neighbours as part of the project, possibly by leasing some of their land to it.

It is the visual aspect that causes some of the greatest stakeholder concern. Manage this by clearing up the uncertainty, through showing them what the project will look like when completed. Computer-based visualization software can produce accurate, realistic visualizations, showing each stakeholder in the area what the project will look like from his or her property.

Most jurisdictions have regulations regarding permissible noise levels, and this may also be a concern for some stakeholders – the “whoosh” of the turbine blades, or the hum of an electrical transformer. Again, technology can help determine the expected noise level at any recipient point, calculating in the effect of topography, vegetation and other factors.

Another concern may be the effect on wildlife, particularly flying species. Managing this is also a regulatory requirement, and environmental professionals can carry out the necessary steps to see if the proposed project will have an unacceptable impact. This can include checking for endangered-species habitat, recording bat and bird activity and determining routes of migratory birds.

In many cases, the interveners in a renewable energy project are non-governmental organizations (NGOs), each of which has its own area of concern. Knowing what those concerns are, and finding ways to show how the proposed project relates to them, can help build good relations with intervening NGOs. Involving the environmental consulting team early in the process can help avoid serious issues later on, for a smoother permitting process.

Ciara De Jong (cdejong@golder.com) is an air quality scientist in the Mississauga, ON office of Golder Associates Ltd.

SAULT STE. MARIE SOLAR PROJECT EXPANDING
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON - Sault Ste Marie is to become home to one of Ontario's largest solar farms due to contracts signed under the province's standard offer program. The project, comprised of two 10 MW phases when announced in September, now include six phases that would contribute 60 megawatts to Ontario's electricity grid - enough electricity to supply 9,000 homes. This latest project represents a potential $360 million investment. It will join a 60 MW project planned in Sarnia as one of the largest solar power generating stations planned in Canada.

UNION GAS ACQUIRES STORAGE RESERVOIR
CHATHAM, ON - Union Gas Ltd has acquired a 1 billion cubic feet (Bcf) natural gas storage pool near Sarnia, ON, from Midway Petroleum Company. The pool is expected to be in service in 2009. Union Gas currently owns and operates the largest underground natural gas storage facility in Canada, and one of the largest in North America.

HYDRO ONE APPOINTS PRESIDENT & CEO
TORONTO, ON - Rita Burak, chair of the board of directors of Hydro One Inc. has announced the appointment of Laura Formusa to the position of President and CEO, Hydro One Inc. Formusa was appointed acting President and Chief Executive Officer in Decemer 2006. Hydro One is a holding company that operates through its subsidiaries in electricity transmission and distribution and telecom businesses. One of its subsidiaries, Hydro One Networks Inc., operates one of the largest transmission and distribution systems in North America. Hydro One Inc. is wholly owned by the province of Ontario.

IST AWARDED CONTRACT IN BOLIVIA
TORONTO, ON - Aecon Group Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, Innovative Steam Technologies (IST), has been awarded a contract valued at $16 million to supply its once-through steam generator (OTSG) units to Bolivian power generation company Empresa Guaracachi S.A., a subsidiary of U.K.- based Rurelec PLC. The units are scheduled to be delivered in August 2008.

GREENFIELD ETHANOL POSTING CORN BIDS
JOHNSTOWN, ON - GreenField Ethanol has announced that it is now buying corn for its Johnstown plant in Eastern Ontario under the newly expanded Ontario Buy Direct Program. The company is posting bids on its website (www.greenfieldethanol.com) for corn delivered to the 200-million litre Johnstown plant, currently under construction. Opening at the end of 2008, the plant will require 20 million bushels of corn per year.

ESSEX ALUMINUM TO CLOSE IN 2009
WINDSOR, ON - About 600 employees at the Essex Aluminum plant in Windsor have been told that the facility will close in 2009. The plant is a joint venture between Ford of Canada and Nemak of Canada Corp. and produces cylinder heads for Ford vehicles. Nemak, based in Monterey, Mexico, was created as a joint venture between Alfa and Ford Motor Co. in 1980. Nemak assumed ownership and control of Windsor Aluminum plant from Ford in 2001.

GO INTRODUCES FLAT LED LIGHTING
TORONTO, ON - GO Lighting Technologies Inc., has introduced its GO FLL (Flat LED Lighting) energy effective lighting that the company says will reduce energy costs for office, commercial and retail spaces. The company says the lighting does not emit UV radiation or EMI and contains no toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead or cadmium and is 100% recyclable.

HYDRO ONE PARTNERS WITH ONTARIO COLLEGES
TORONTO, ON - Hydro One has entered into a partnership with four Community Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology to attract and educate the future employees of the electricity transmission and distribution utility sector. The company will contribute up to $3 million for scholarships, program development and equipment over four years to Algonquin College (Ottawa), Georgian College (Barrie), Mohawk College (Hamilton) and Northern College (Timmins) for programs that will train people as technicians, technologists and trades positions in the electricity sector. Up to 30% of the company’s workforce is eligible for retirement in the next few years.

CANDU WANTS MORE ONTARIO BUSINESS
TORONTO, ON - The Organization of CANDU Industries says that if the Ontario government chooses CANDU for its new base load electricity supply it will create more jobs and economic benefits for Ontario than foreign technology. "At a time when Ontario is losing manufacturing jobs at an alarming rate, choosing CANDU is an antidote to job loss,” says OCI President Martyn Wash. Ontario's CANDU industry employs 25,000 people and generates more than $4 billion into the province's economy. CANDU Industries represents 101 companies in Ontario supplying goods and services for CANDU reactors built in both domestic and export markets.

HY-DRIVE APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT & CEO
TORONTO, ON - Hy-Drive Technologies Ltd. has appointed Hugo T. Sorensen to the position of president and CEO effective January, 2008. Hy-Drive is an energy technology firm that has developed a system which generates and injects hydrogen gas into a regular internal combustion engine, enhancing the combustion process by allowing fuel to burn more efficiently and completely.

SIEMENS WINS PIPELINE PROJECT
MISSISSAUGA, ON - Siemens has been awarded a contract for TransCanada’s Keystone Pipeline project. Valued at over $200 million, the company will supply the project with electrical equipment, electrical power supply and pumping equipment. The 3,456 km pipeline will have the capability to transport crude oil from the oil sands in Northern Alberta to U.S. markets in the Midwest and Cushing, OK area.