Participants

Alberta Health Services is shining a light on energy conservation through a large-scale conversion to LED lights in its parkades throughout Alberta. The first phase which was completed at 13 parkades in Calgary and Red Deer in 2016 has reduced electricity costs by $245,000/year and reduced GHG emissions by 1,804 tonnes CO2e annually.  The second phase involving 9 parkades in Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Lethbridge was completed in July 2018. Post retrofit measurements are being completed to verify savings. All AHS parkades are now lit with LED lighting.

AHS has reduced the electricity and natural gas use in a number of their hospitals, clinics and office buildings by replacing outdated pneumatic controls with digital which improve comfort conditions but also reduce energy use through better controls and disabling air systems when the space is unoccupied. They have also improved the efficiency of primary building equipment like boilers, chillers and ventilation systems through system upgrades and recommissioning. AHS created a cross-departmental environmental sustainability team tasked with initiating corporate-wide initiatives with leadership provided by the organization’s Chief Financial Officer as the lead sponsor.

In addition to a focus on measuring and managing direct GHG emissions, Canadian Western Bank (CWB) continues to embed sustainable practices into daily operations as they grow across Canada. CWB follows sustainability-focused industry standards in the design and construction of new locations, including considerations such as building orientation, energy efficient lighting, triple-glazed windows and carpet tile.

In the fall of 2021, CWB opened a new Gateway Banking Centre in Edmonton. Aligned with CWB’s focus to manage their environmental footprint, this location complies with environmentally sustainable building standards, following LEED GOLD design principles, and includes features such as LED lighting, occupancy sensors and an efficient HVAC system.

CWB supports flexible and hybrid work arrangements, with expected long-term benefits to their carbon footprint based on reduced commuting requirements and leverages digital tools to minimize printing, paper usage, courier services and unnecessary travel. Teams are encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle and CWB does not procure single-use plastic products related to food consumption or non-recyclable coffee or tea pods at its locations.

Chandos Construction is committed to environmentally friendly construction practices, which are helping to reduce their carbon footprint. Their jobsite waste diversion efforts have received provincial acclaim and recognition. In 2005, Chandos won an award from the Alberta Environment Minister, which recognized the high waste diversion rate achieved at an Edmonton jobsite. 

Since then, their commitment to diverting waste from landfills has been adopted company-wide, through the establishment of a goal to achieve 70% diversion for all projects. From 2011 to 2017, they diverted 23,490 tons of waste out of the 33,465 tons generated on site, exceeding this target. Chandos is working to continuously improving on these results and reduce their environmental impact throughout their operations.

Policies and programs that improve the corporation’s environmental impact and reduce GHG emissions have been a major part of the City of Edmonton’s environmental commitment for decades.

The City’s corporate Sustainable Building Policy, first approved in 2008 and then significantly expanded and updated in 2017, applies to buildings the City owns, leases and provides funding to build. That policy includes performance standards that apply to every stage of a building’s life cycle. For example, new buildings must demonstrate increased energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, high-performance envelopes and include the installation of renewable energy systems. Existing buildings undergo energy benchmarking and BOMA BEST Certification, and opportunities for GHG reductions are identified through the building assessment process. 

Built in 2011, the Queen Elizabeth Outdoor Pool is an excellent example of the City of Edmonton’s commitment to building green. Built with passive design features like open-air change rooms, the facility requires no natural gas for heating and uses little artificial lighting. The facility use solar energy directly via 200 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that capture and convert the sun’s rays into electricity, and indirectly via solar thermal collectors that help heat the facility's water. Given the low energy consumption of the pool, the solar panels provide about half of the building’s electricity needs.

Clark Builders is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in practical and real-world applications. They are focused on being environmentally responsible, providing the best value to their clients through innovative and sustainable solutions, and continuing to grow their team of sustainable superheroes.

Clark Builders recently reached an important milestone in their sustainability journey with the construction of over one billion dollars worth of LEED® certified buildings to date within Edmonton for organizations including NAIT, MacEwan University, and Edmonton Public Schools. They are also leading in the deployment of renewable energy, having installed over 2.5 megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems, enough to power 415 homes for one year.

Clark Builders recently completed their first LED Jobsite project at the Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC) at NAIT. LED Jobsites are construction projects that use purpose built LED lights as temporary construction lights instead of traditional and inefficient temporary lighting. By making the switch to LED lighting, it is estimated that the project will reduce GHG emissions by 269 metric tonnes, equivalent to removing approximately 60 cars from the road for one year.

Committed to the Corporate Climate Leaders Program, Clark Builders will continue to elevate industry standards for construction practices, demonstrate environmental leadership, and practice a triple bottom line approach to drive sustainable innovation in Edmonton’s construction industry.

Covenant Health’s commitment to health care and sustainability is rooted in the spiritual purpose of healing and restoration, and grounded in a deep respect for the value of life.

Covenant Health is committed to providing quality relationship-centred care to patients and their families. As part of this commitment, Covenant Health recognizes the importance of serving as a steward in order to protect the health of the environment. This is reflected through Covenant Health’s adoption of environmentally friendly practices including resource conservation, pollution prevention principles and effective environmental management systems to reduce their ecological impact while protecting human health.

As a North American energy infrastructure leader, Enbridge’s purpose is to meet society’s need for secure energy supply, while at the same time, reducing emissions and protecting the environment. With systems that deliver oil, natural gas and renewable energy and power to millions of homes and businesses, Enbridge is uniquely positioned to help bridge the transition to a lower-carbon energy future. The company’s Corporate Safety, Climate and Corporate Social Responsibility Policies detail its commitment to safely and reliably deliver the energy that people need in a responsible manner that manages climate risks and opportunities.

Enbridge’s Climate Policy provides the strategic link between emissions reduction and the company’s business strategy.  Key priorities include diversification of the energy mix delivered by Enbridge and engagement with stakeholders and decision-makers on energy efficiency, renewables and power, cleaner fuels and cleaner oil and gas.

With corporate headquarters in Alberta, Enbridge recognizes that in order to play a key role in the transition to a low-carbon future and support the achievement of national and global emission reduction goals, it must take a proactive approach to reducing its carbon footprint. Enbridge is achieving this by focusing on reducing the carbon intensity of its operations through setting long-term targets for GHG reductions and energy efficiency and implementing carbon and energy efficiency plans for each of the company’s major business segments.

EPCOR is committed to taking corporate action to reduce the impact of climate change. As part of this commitment EPCOR has established energy efficiency programs that track the performance of assets within water treatment plants, reservoirs, and booster stations to ensure that equipment replacements and upgrades are conducted in a timely and cost effective manner. Upgrades to lighting fixtures, windows, HVAC systems, roofing, and pumps have resulted in significant energy savings. Despite pumping water farther every year to reach new Edmonton neighbourhoods, the energy required per unit of water delivered per capita has decreased by 21% since 2001.

In addition to energy efficiency initiatives, EPCOR is also investing in clean energy. As part of the renovation of the Hugh J. Bolton Service Centre on 107 Street, EPCOR installed a 124.4 kW solar PV system. The installation will reduce GHG emissions associated with the facility by approximately 80 tonnes per year and provide electricity savings for more than 20 years. This solar installation was partially funded through Energy Efficiency Alberta’s Residential and Commercial Solar Program. EPCOR has conducted solar potential studies at several of its sites in Edmonton and is proposing a 12 MW ground mount solar PV system at the E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant. If approved, the E.L. Smith Solar Project would reduce GHG emissions by approximately 14,000 tonnes per year.

The large footprint of the IKEA store in Edmonton means that managing building operations is a vital part of reducing energy usage and managing greenhouse gas emissions. The IKEA building maintenance system (BMS) contractor monitors the store’s HVAC system on a day-to-day basis and is better able to control equipment like fans and radiant heaters by tying them to that system. IKEA has also made the switch from conventional lighting to LED, monitors the energy use of their lighting systems, and has recently installed a 1060.3 kW solar PV system on the Edmonton store.

The store brings sustainability to customers through furniture recycling events, tree planting events and participating in Earth Day. IKEA makes continued commitments to reducing their environmental footprint by recycling cardboard, glass, paper, textiles and wood. In addition, the company has purchased two Alberta wind farms, a 46-megawatt farm in Pincher Creek and one in Wintering Hills which generates enough electricity to power 54 IKEA stores.

IKEA Canada has a Social and Environmental Management System that guides environmental practices around Canada, and the company has made a commitment to use only renewable and recycled material in its products by 2030.

Lafarge’s environmental efforts stretch beyond its own operations by working in partnership with industry peers. Together with its peers, the goal is to encourage all businesses to be more innovative and mindful of their resource use and environmental impact. By offering innovative construction material solutions, LafargeHolcim worldwide has a 2030 goal to help its customers reduce the CO2 emissions from buildings by 10,000 million tonnes per year.

LafargeHolcim’s Sustainability Strategy makes its corporate goals clear; by 2030 the company wants to produce 40% less CO² per tonne of cement than they did in 1990, a goal that will make them the most CO2 efficient business in their sector. The company has also pledged to use construction and demolition waste to produce recycled aggregates, and by 2040, they expect to use 80 million tonnes of this recycled product in their operations each year. When this goal is achieved, the company will be supplying four times more recycled aggregates and reclaimed asphalt pavement than today.

In addition, Lafarge plans to reduce water use in its operations with the goal of achieving a 30% reduction in freshwater used in every tonne of cement produced.

Over a decade ago, Landmark Homes set a vision “to be a North American housing solutions provider recognized for sustainability and for leading a revolution in the industrialization of housing construction.”

Since that vision was articulated in 2009, Landmark Homes, using the principles of The Natural Step™, has dedicated itself to not only building energy-efficient homes, but also reducing the carbon footprint of each home under construction while reducing construction waste. The company has created innovative construction methodology through its own research and development as well as through its affiliations with post secondary institutions.

Homes built by Landmark are prefabricated in ACQBuilt’s factory, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Edmonton. Using computer-numerical-controlled (CNC) machinery and panelized construction technology, Landmark has been able to limit GHG emissions during construction to less than 4 tonnes per home compared to an average of 15.7 tonnes for traditionally site-built homes.

In the past five years, Landmark has built 26 net zero energy homes, over 50 net zero ready homes and more than 200 energy efficient homes equipped with solar photovoltaic systems. To date, 68% of the Alberta homes that are certified Built Green Gold or better were constructed by Landmark.

Lehigh Cement recognizes the importance of taking action on climate change and is committed to being accountable for environmental impacts. Through the Sustainability Commitments 2030, the company has reaffirmed its corporate responsibility to keep the global temperature rise below 2oC. The company has committed to a 30% reduction in its carbon footprint compared to 1990 levels by 2030 through the increased use of alternative fuels and the introduction of new cement types with lower specific CO2 footprints. The goals have been assessed by an independent external consultant and confirmed as being in line with the 2oC target. The 2030 Sustainability Goals are based upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Lehigh Cement recognizes that these sustainability goals, which include CO2 reduction, cannot be realised without meaningful engagement by business. The private sector has a crucial role to play as a driver of innovation and technological development and as a key engine of economic growth and employment.

Businesses that take steps towards GHG management are seen as leaders and through their actions can change the actions of employees as well as be an example for other businesses and corporations to follow and glean from. It is important action is taken now as global pressures of increasing temperatures, increased disease, changing ecosystems and a rising human population all compound the impacts of climate change. The longer company’s wait to take action, the more difficult solutions will become.

MacEwan University takes a holistic approach to sustainability understanding the importance of balancing environmental responsibility, cultural vitality, social equity and economic integrity. The university’s work on sustainability involves all members of the university community - academics, operations and engagement and leadership - who worked together to create the 2017-2021 Strategic Campus Sustainability Plan.

MacEwan has worked to reduce its GHG emissions and energy use through  LED lighting retrofits campus-wide as well as installing a 14 kW solar PV array on the Robbins Health Learning Centre, which is also a LEED Silver certified building.

The university, its students and staff are committed to issues of food security by supporting local growers, by growing food on campus in under utilized places and by keeping bees on their City Centre downtown campus rooftop. While the bees provide honey for food preparation and for sale to campus community members, they also provide valuable learning opportunities through tours, educational activities and micro-learning tools developed by the university to help Edmontonians understand the important role bees play in our food system.

Over the past eight years, NAIT has achieved a 30% reduction in energy use per square metre in its facilities, saving an aggregated total of 85,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2009.  Building retrofits and mechanical and electrical upgrades have played a major role in this success.

NAIT has replaced the steam-powered cooling units in its buildings with a central high-efficiency electric cooling plant. Major fan motors in buildings have been upgraded with variable speed drives to save power. This allows unit output to be matched with demand on and off peak hours.

To date, over 90% of the lights at the main campus have been upgraded to LED or T8 bulbs. As older buildings are renewed, NAIT will continue to incorporate smart technologies to reduce energy consumption and operate facilities more efficiently.

Part of NAIT’s greenhouse gas savings can also be attributed to new buildings, which are designed and built to a high standard in energy efficiency. For example, the 51,600 square metre Centre For Applied Technology was built to LEED Gold and is NAIT’s first building to have 100% LED lighting with digital controls.

In addition to retrofits and green building design, NAIT encourages the sustainability efforts through recycling, waste diversion and reduction, green cleaning and energy management programs.

In 2011, the University of Alberta created the Envision: Intelligent Energy Reduction program which takes an integrated approach to reducing the university’s energy consumption while seeking partnership opportunities to research, validate and adopt best practices and innovative technologies.

Since the inception of the energy management program in the mid-70’s, the university has invested over $80 million in energy efficiency and reduction measures that have help avoid over $320 million in utility costs and mitigated 2.3 million tonnes of GHG emissions. While the university’s built environment has increased in area by 75%, the overall energy use intensity of its buildings has decreased by 13%, including a 13% reduction in electricity use intensity and 45% reduction in heating steam use intensity.

A portion of the energy savings realized by Envision is used to help fund the zero waste initiative, sustainability outreach programs, over 750 kW’s of renewable and alternative energy projects, a water reduction initiative, and experiential learning opportunities for student and faculty researchers focus on advancing campus sustainability.