Energy efficiency contract awarded for 14 Wing Greenwood

From: National Defence

News release

December 7, 2018 – Greenwood, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Through Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is greening defence infrastructure and taking action against climate change. The Department of National Defence (DND) is expanding the use of energy performance contracts to improve the energy efficiency of our military infrastructure and provide our personnel with modern and green facilities in which to work and train.

On behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, Member of Parliament for West Nova Colin Fraser, today marked the award of an energy performance contract at 14 Wing Greenwood. The $20.5-million project will see 102 buildings upgraded with energy efficiency measures including new LED lighting and efficient ventilation systems. The wing’s central heating plant will also be upgraded to a cleaner natural gas fuel source. These upgrades are expected to lower annual energy costs at the wing by about $900,000, or 13 percent, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by close to 7,500 tonnes per year.

DND has a number of energy performance contracts in various stages of development and implementation at bases across Canada. Through these contracts, a company is contracted to pay for and carry out an energy retrofit project at a base or wing. The money saved in energy costs is then used to pay the company back over a five- to 15-year period, which minimizes the up-front costs to the taxpayer, and guarantees that the upgrades produce savings. 

Quotes

“These energy performance contracts represent the great work underway across Canada to make our Defence infrastructure more sustainable and energy efficient. This work benefits our personnel by modernizing the places where they work and train, while significantly lowering our carbon emissions to help us achieve a greener future for all Canadians.”

Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister

“I am thrilled to see this green energy project move forward for Base Greenwood. This $20.5-million investment will create economic opportunities for surrounding communities, while demonstrating that greener, more sustainable government operations is as good for the economy as it is for the environment.”

Colin Fraser, Member of Parliament for West Nova

Quick facts

  • The contract for energy upgrades and retrofits at 14 Wing Greenwood was awarded to MCW Custom Energy Solutions Ltd.

  • Similar contracts are in development for Bagotville, Shilo, Alert, Comox, Borden, Trenton, Kingston, Gagetown, Halifax, Montreal, Saint-Jean and Goose Bay. In addition to Greenwood, projects are underway at Valcartier, Esquimalt, and Petawawa.

  • The project is expected to lower 14 Wing’s annual GHG emissions by 7,500 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 1,600 cars off the road.

  • As stated in Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, DND is improving its infrastructure to achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from 2005 levels) by 2030. Implementing new energy performance contracts at bases and wings across Canada supports the government’s low-carbon goal and new emissions reduction target of 80 percent by 2050.

  • The broader Defence Energy and Environment Strategy bolsters DND’s capacity to green its operations and adapt to climate change impacts by integrating adaptation measures, including energy performance contracts, into its policies and practices.

  • Defence Construction Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada are DND’s partners in procuring the services of energy services companies to modernize and green defence infrastructure.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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