Registration & Reception 5:00PM to 6:00PM

Dinner Meeting 6:00PM to 8:30PM

The first presentation at this month's meeting was given by Mark Cammisuli, P.Eng, CEM of Enbridge. The presentation discussed the variety of energy management services which are available through Enbridge. Mark is currently working as an energy solutions consultant with Enbridge. He works on a wide range of projects where he strives to assist clients meet their energy demand needs while reducing their overall energy consumption.

The energy solutions team has been successfully providing demand side management for 20 years. Demand side management aims to reduce a client's gas consumption by monitoring their usage, collecting data, and assessing their demand in order to determine an optimal solution for each individual client. These programs have been based on a voluntary system and have helped manage gas consumption ranging from residential to commercial, institutional and industrial clients. Demand side management has helped to save 7.8 billion cubic meters of gas between 1995 and 2013, which translates to approximately 14.9 million tons of carbon dioxide.

The programs are based on two categorized types of incentives:

1. Fixed/Prescriptive Incentives consist of items which have a set quantity or unitized amount of savings per installation. This includes items such as condensing boilers, heat recovery ventilators and showerheads. These can be installed in most situations.
2. Custom Financial Incentives consist of larger capital improvement projects which do not have a unitized quantity of savings per installation due to the uniqueness of each client. This can include items such as energy audits, waste heat recovery systems, insulation upgrades and upgrading ventilation controls. All of these projects are customizable based on client specific needs.

It should be noted that the custom financial incentives are usually intended for larger buildings with more complex systems. Additionally, there is a limit to the number of custom audits each year so these projects must be approved in advance before they are started.

Enbridge also continues to offer the "Run it Right" program. This incentive is ideal for large commercial customers and requires a pulse capable meter for daily measurements since a large amount of data is required.

There are three phases to the "Run it Right" program:

1. Investigate the building to see where potential savings can be applied to the buildings operating systems. The initial investigation is funded by Enbridge. From here a report is made for the customer who can then choose which specific incentives they want to pursue from the list made available to them. A customer must choose enough options to save at least 5% of their total energy consumption.
2. Implement the chosen operational measures to achieve lower energy consumption. Enbridge offers implementation incentives such as reimbursement for repairs, offering training to facility operators and contractors.
3. Monitor the operational improvements for a year after installation and provide data to the client depicting the energy consumption rates throughout that period. This phase is also funded by Enbridge.

The second presentation was given by Peter Rombos, a Key Account Manager, CDM Program from Toronto Hydro. His presentation discussed the new Conservation First Framework and Incentive Programs which are being offered by Toronto Hydro in 2015-2020. Peter has been with Toronto Hydro since 2014. As a Key Account Manager, his role is to provide guidance and education in how to apply the incentive program to various projects and expand awareness and applicability of the incentive program to other areas. Before his time at Toronto Hydro, Peter spent time at CBRE and BLJC as an Energy Manager, Project Manager and at Seneca teaching Building Science and Renewable Energy.

The Ministry of Energy's Conservation First Directive, which was received by Toronto Hydro in March of 2014, consists of several Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) programs which will become available in 2015. Since the objective of the directive is to reduce energy demand as opposed to increasing the power supply by making more power plants, conservation is the key objective.

How do these changes affect project applications for incentive programs? Since the LDC groups are still currently designing the programs, the existing 2011-2014 programs have been extended to the end of 2015 to allow for a transition period to take place. Projects can apply under the existing incentive program rules until the new 2015-2020 program launch date. However, projects which are applied for under the existing program must be completed by December 2015. If the project is not completed in time, the project will be transitioned to the new incentive program rules by LDCs. Projects which are applied for after the new program launch date will, of course, be subject to the new incentive program rules. The new program launch date has not been confirmed at this point.

 

Some of the continued 2011-2014 incentives include:

• Audit funding;
• Retrofit installation programs; and
• Small business lighting installation

There are several new province-wide incentive programs under consideration for businesses such as upstream/midstream incentives and operational savings.

Additionally, several regional pilot programs are being planned and implemented, including hydronic balancing as direct install, advanced rooftop unit control as direct install and strategic energy management incentives.

Peter summarized by saying that everyone should include conservation programs in their capital plans. There are many programs in place that make Toronto Hydro a great resource for a wide variety of clients. Additionally, it is important that when applying for a CDM project, give the process time to take place and be implemented. Get Toronto Hydro involved early.