People familiar with 海角社区app's buildings might point to the fortress-style听 on Studley Campus if asked to identify one of the university's biggest energy users.听
Until this year, that answer would have been correct. Now, thanks to a top-to-bottom energy retrofit completed earlier this winter, the largest university library in Atlantic Canada can be counted among Dal's most energy-efficient facilities.听
The library's transformation over the past two years has enabled the university to slash the building's carbon footprint by more than 50 per cent and cut its utility costs in half.鈥�
"The library was one of the biggest energy consumers on our campus, and so really a great building, a great candidate to do a deep-energy retrofit," says Stephanie MacPhee, executive director with 海角社区app's Office of Sustainability..听
The Office of Sustainability led the project along with Facilities Management, in partnership with external service provider .鈥�
A map of the Killam shown on a screen.
What's changed?
The Killam first opened its doors in 1971 at a time when energy efficiency wasn't always top of mind in capital projects, explains Craig Arthur, assistant vice-president of Facilities Management.听
The deep-energy retrofit involved a complete overhaul of the building's systems, including lighting and heating 鈥� two key drivers of energy use.鈥�
"I have a lot of pride in this project,鈥� says Judd Mullen, principal and construction manager with MCW Group. 鈥淚t's a 55-year-old building and a lot of it was original. Mechanically, it was basically a full rehabilitation of the building."听听
Mechanically, it was basically a full rehabilitation of the building.
The lighting system was updated with modern LEDs and motion-detection, enabling cost savings during quieter times.鈥�
Motion-sensor lighting in the stacks.
"Controls were put in place so that the lighting is not on if there is nobody using the different spaces in the building," says MacPhee.鈥�
Heating was switched from steam to hot water, a much more energy efficient solution.听
"The service providers [were] a critical partner in helping to do that. We worked with individuals who have done a lot of work on our campus, so they really understand our needs," she adds.鈥�
Thinking ahead
Dal is now planning other energy efficiency projects in the Student Union Building and the Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building informed by energy studies funded via the , which is run by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) and funded by Natural Resources Canada.听
"The assessments we undertake . . . allow us to maximize our renewal dollars with the biggest impact possible," says Arthur.
Service desk in the Student Union Building.
No date has been set yet for those upcoming projects.
Success on the Killam retrofit project follows a year in which the university achieved a 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, far surpassing the 30 per cent target.听
"We're in a climate crisis, and I just think this work is really critically important," says MacPhee. "Any programs that we can tap into to help us advance this听work,听we will do that to achieve our carbon-reduction goals.鈥澨�