By Dan Taccone
Algonquin’s N-building has been outfitted with new smart lights that are projected to save $90,000 in energy costs as part of a larger initiative to improve the college’s sustainability.
The new Intelligent Lighting Control Systems that are being installed work through sensors that detect if there are any occupants in the room. The lights have already been installed in buildings B, C, T, H, D, J and the residence buildings, with the others awaiting installation.
The project, which was announced in January 2014, seeks to reduce the energy used by Woodroffe campus, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and reducing energy costs and maintenance fees.
“The lighting control project is part of a larger project,” said Sarah Dehler, Algonquin’s sustainability coordinator.
That is a 20 year Energy Savings Contract (ESCO) between the college and Siemens Canada. As the second contract between the two, this project has been aptly-entitled “ESCO 2”.
The project, which was announced in January 2014, seeks to reduce the energy used by Woodroffe campus, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and reducing energy costs and maintenance fees.
The project aims to, over the next couple years, renovate the campus in a number of ways in addition to the new lighting control, including increasing water efficiency, modernizing kitchen equipment, and replacing the cooling tower from the climate control unit.
This follows recent efforts by Algonquin to be eco-friendly. This past summer, the horticulture industries program sold fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally. More recently, the college has instituted “Tune-up Tuesdays” where students can get their bicycles tuned for free, in an effort to promote clean transportation.
However, despite the relatively small scales of those initiatives, Algonquin is no stranger to investing significantly more in attempts to reduce its effect on the environment. The ACCE Building, finished in 2011, has been recognized for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The building has also won awards from the Canada Green Building Council and the Society for College and University Planning.