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  • Engineering

What can an engineer do for your building?

Professional Engineering expertise is critical in the design and operation of any building. All heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, power and communications systems need to be sized properly and designed according to the demands of the building and its occupants. Decisions made in original design and retrofits determine how much energy and resources a building consumes. Mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering disciplines work together to meet design requirements.

What did engineering consultants do for us?

Professional consultants provided energy modeling concepts for the building, determining its shape, and base system design criteria. They provided mechanical, electrical and civil engineering services for original construction and on an ongoing basis as we strive to reduce the impact of our operations. Their knowledge was leveraged for both our LEED Gold and Platinum certifications, particularly through an extensive energy and water audit that gave us a blueprint for how to reach energy and carbon neutrality, resulting in consumption being 85% below building code requirements.

How does it make us more sustainable?

Professional Engineering services ensure that the building is operating as efficiently as possible without compromising the safety or comfort of building occupants. Many of the systems implemented at the ERC are cutting edge and required the expertise of engineering consultants to both design and ensure that installation and operations meet design and building code requirements. Lessons learned at the ERC can then be applied at buildings everywhere, decreasing the amount of energy, water and resources that our buildings consume.

Engineering image gallery

Building plans of white roof
Building plans of white roof

Solar thermal collectors harvest energy for hot water and minor heating needs. System changes in 2012 resulted in an additional 20,000 kWh of electricity savings.

Building plan of air diffuser
Building plan of air diffuser

Displacement ventilation involves deliberate stratification of air in occupied spaces. Air balancing ensures that the designed quantity of air is reaching each diffuser and occupant in the building spaces.

Building plan of thermal coils
Building plan of thermal coils

Heat can be sent to areas that need thermal energy, while being kept off in those that are comfortable. Careful zoning allows for this fine control of the radiant surfaces by the building automation system.

Building plan of solar metering hut
Building plan of solar metering hut

The geothermal system in schematic form is overlaid over the as-constructed system. The parking lot display area showcases the system’s design and performance benefits.

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Did you know?

  • Our conservation plan: 5 years later

    All of the upgrades and energy savings improvements achieved at the ERC over the last five years were planned out by MCW Custom Energy Solutions in their 2008 Energy and Water Management Plan. This guide provided us with a blue print and capital planning tool to plan out how we could dramatically reduce the consumption and impact of an already green building.

    This plan looked at:

    • HVAC upgrades like the Geothermal system
    • Water savings measures, like a retrofit of the Wastewater treatment plant,
    • Renewable generation, like our implemented parking lot tracking array
    • Incentives available to reduce the cost of some conservation measures
    • Feasibility of LEED EBOM certification lighting retrofits to decrease consumption and maintenance costs

    We have implemented many of these strategies and technologies, and have plans in place to realize those not yet attained, with a goal of zero net energy and water consumption.

  • What can an energy services company do for you?

    Since 1991, MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd. has completed or initiated more than $375 million worth of energy performance contracting work, partnering with commercial, academic, health care, multi-unit residential and municipal clients throughout Canada. The MCW team consists of experts with proven, long-term experience within the energy services fields. Design experts in lighting redesign, mechanical systems, HVAC controls, heat reclaim, cogeneration, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and other state-of-the-art technologies make it possible for MCW to maximize their customer’s savings potential and to provide the most comprehensive, fully integrated building upgrades available for clients.

    In 2008, MCW partnered with the Earth Rangers Centre in an effort to make the building the most energy efficient of its kind. With the installation of 57kW of state-of-the-art solar PV panels, a large Geothermal field, chiller modifications, improvements to the solar thermal system, ventilation system modifications and building automation system upgrades we are now approaching carbon-neutral operation. Thanks to MCW’s support, the ERC is currently one of the first LEED EB:O&M Platinum facilities in Canada.

  • Video: enthalpy wheel in motion

Generously supported by:

MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd, part of the MCW group of companies, is a leading Canadian Energy Services Company (ESCo) specializing in energy efficiency projects.

Over the course of 20 years in the industry, MCW has helped clients from all sectors reduce their facilities’ energy bills, diminish environmental impact and modernize building operations to use the most up-to-date technologies and strategies available.

MCW has partnered with the Earth Rangers Centre since the initial design stage as electrical engineering consultants, and since 2006 as efficiency and sustainability consultants with a goal of achieving “Net Zero” carbon consumption through design upgrades, efficiency improvements and building commissioning.

MCW is an ideas based organization. Their value is added up front, through an engaged partnering process with clients whereby MCW drives the technical and financial possibilities within Investment Grade Feasibility Studies, and clients consider and then approve the scope of the developed opportunity.

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