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Caledon Citizen https://caledoncitizen.com/town-hall-wins-two-gta-wide-awards-for-energy-use-reduction/ Export date: Thu Jul 18 5:21:51 2024 / +0000 GMT |
Town Hall wins two GTA-wide awards for energy use reductionBy Bill Rea Caledon Town Hall received two awards for Team Excellence and Building Performance through the Waste to Reduce Program, led by CivicAction. The announcement of the awards was made to Town councillors last week by Public Works Director David Loveridge. The awards were actually presented Dec. 4. The categories recognize buildings in the Race to Reduce that have demonstrated active and sustained landlord and tenant collaboration for energy conservation, and most significant energy reductions between 2012 and 2013. Loveridge observed that Race to Reduce is a challenge aimed at getting office buildings within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to collectively reduce their energy use by 10 per cent. He pointed out that the challenge grew from a realization that office buildings within the GTA account for almost 20 per cent of carbon emissions, and consume about 37 per cent of the electricity and 17 per cent of the natural gas that is used. The first award was a Team Excellence Award. Loveridge commented the project that was recognized was a recommissioning exercise which identified in the Corporate Energy Management Plan. He said there was a gap found in staff knowledge and understanding of the operation of the facility. An engineering firm was hired to provide technical expertise and suggest improvements. Tom Darlow, of the Town's energy and environment section, led the project and started putting those recommendations into place, once he became facilities manager. As well, Loveridge said a small staff team was formed, and employees at Town Hall were consulted to help create a balance between staff comfort and energy efficiency. He also pointed out an energy dashboard has been installed outside the council chambers to help keep staff up to date on energy use. The second award was in building performance, for the greatest energy reduction in a building of less than 250,000 square feet. The Town, guided by its Corporate Energy Management Plan, demonstrated significant success in reducing energy use at Town Hall. Between 2012 and 2013, Town Hall energy use fell 19 per cent through the collaborative efforts of the Facilities Management Team and staff. Loveridge stressed the awards would not have been possible without the commitment of staff and the foresight that came from the creation of the energy management plan. “This is an excellent example of staff commitment to continuous improvement through innovative collaboration,” commented Mayor Allan Thompson, who called the awards a huge achievement. “My congratulations to all staff who contributed to this project.” “The positive behaviour change and energy reduction results have given our team the support and enthusiasm we need to move forward and accomplish even greater energy conservation efforts across Town facilities,” Loveridge said. “We were competing with almost every high-rise office building in the GTA,” he added. The Race to Reduce is an initiative of CivicAction, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that brings together senior executives and rising leaders from all sectors to tackle some of the region's toughest social, economic and environmental challenges.  Caledon Town Hall was recently recognized with two awards for energy efficiency at the facility, and staff and councillors took time out of last week's meeting to celebrate. Seen here are Councillor Gord McClure, Doug Beffort and Rob Mezzapelli; Energy and Environment Manager Sara Peckford; Public Works Director David Loveridge; Councillor Barb Shaughnessy; Mayor Allan Thompson; Facilities Manager Tom Darlow; Councillors Johanna Downey, Annette Groves and Nick deBoer; Energy and Environmental Officer Katelyn McFadyen; and Councillor Jennifer Innis. |
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Post date: 2015-01-21 17:33:11 Post date GMT: 2015-01-21 22:33:11 Post modified date: 2015-01-22 11:26:05 Post modified date GMT: 2015-01-22 16:26:05 |
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