Cambrian College to Save $480K in Energy-Related Upgrades

Ontario-based Cambrian College is moving into the next phase of a long-term agreement with Honeywell and Honeywell Building Technologies to replace aging equipment and update lighting in pursuit of energy savings. The improvements are expected to save the college at least $480,000 within the first year. Those savings, guaranteed by Honeywell, will be plowed into funding some of the upgrades.

Honeywell Cambrian College Energy Agreement

Honeywell staff install a geothermal heating and cooling system at Cambrian College as part of the college's energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
Source: Honeywell

The work, focused on support of energy conservation measures and creating more comfortable learning spaces, will include:

  • Implementation of a geothermal heating solution, to deliver supplemental heating and cooling and intended to help offset boiler consumption in the building housing Cambrian’s Sustainable Energy Centre of Excellence;
  • Upgraded smart LED lighting and fixtures, which will help the college understand how its physical areas are being used;
  • Installation of a high-efficiency chiller, to replace a legacy chiller; and
  • Deployment of a building management system, which enhances the campus' existing Honeywell Enterprise Buildings Integrator building automation system.

"A leading mission of Cambrian College is our commitment to reduce our carbon impact," said Kristine Morrissey, vice president of Cambrian's divisions of International, Finance and Administration, in a statement. "This project will allow us to do just that. We anticipate the project will reduce approximately 300 tons of greenhouse gasses a year, which is the equivalent of removing close to 100 medium-size cars from the road every year. In addition, the project is supporting the modernization of our campus in both its digital and physical space, which ultimately will provide our students and faculty an improved education environment."

The college began collaborating with Honeywell in 2013. Under that agreement, Honeywell committed to working with Cambrian, to review its facility and energy needs regularly and identify areas where the college could reduce operating expenses and greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, Cambrian agreed to provide training for Honeywell’s building technicians in Canada, along with other professional development services.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • Phoenix High School Completes First Phase of Campus Renovations

    Metro Tech High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) in Phoenix, Ariz., recently announced the completion of the first stage of a campus renovation project, according to a news release. The school reopened a series of public-facing business operations spaces including credit union, daycare, floral, cosmetology, and culinary services. It also includes new CTE learning spaces for the school’s nursing assistant, pharmacy, and sports medicine programs.