TECHNICAL UPDATES: Energy Star benchmark launched in Canada; B.C. issues guidelines for dam safety reports

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager was officially launched in Canada on August 27. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tool was redeveloped and tailored to the Canadian market in association with Natural Resources Canada.

The new tool is being called “a significant milestone for the Canadian buildings sector,” and has Canadian weather, postal codes, both official languages, the metric system and data specific to Canada.

Over 4,000 Canadian buildings are using it to monitor and rate their energy use. NRCan is advising Canadian users to go on line to update their information.

To access the Canadian tool, click here.

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC) has issued new guidelines for the review of dam safety. The “Professional Practice Guidelines – Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in BC,” were commissioned by the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

The guidelines define the services, standard of care and specific tasks to be provided by APEGBC members conducting this type of work. They also provide descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of the various participants and set out expectations for the appropriate knowledge, skill sets and experience necessary.

Consistency in the reporting is also dealt with.

Dam safety reviews involve all aspects of the design, construction, maintenance, operation, processes and systems affecting a dam’s safety as well as the dam safety management system.

For more details from APEGBC, click here.