University of British Columbia saves $3.8 million in energy

Through its energy retrofit program, the University of British Columbia has saved $3.8 million in energy costs over the last three years and from now on it expects to save $2.6 million annually.
MCW Custom Energy Solutions has been hired by the university to design and monitor the university’s program known as “ecotrek” under which most of the energy retrofitting took place. MCW is related to MCW Consultants, a Canadian consulting engineering company.
Improvements done over the last three years to buildings and equipment at UBC have managed to reduce the university’s carbon dioxide emissions by 15,000 tonnes annually, meaning the university exceeds Kyoto Protocol targets. The ecotrek program also has reduced campus water use by 30 per cent annually — enough water to supply 11,800 Vancouver residents for one year.
The improvements included upgrades to the lighting and ventilation systems in more than 100 buildings, as well as upgrades to the central steam plant, and the installation of automated controls, metering, and low water plumbing systems. It is said to be the “largest retrofit in Canada’s history.”