With the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a commitment to keeping costs in check, Fraser Health turned to FortisBC for help with a major project—upgrading the space and water heating systems to high efficiency at the authority’s Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge, a facility treating an average of 7,300 patients annually.
According to Jeson Mak, Fraser Health’s energy manager, the project pushed the envelope of what was technologically possible in terms of boosting energy efficiency across the hospital’s aging, multiple-building site.
“It was innovative because we were trying to create efficiencies in the hospital, including the heating and hot water system,” says Mak. “Throughout the project, FortisBC was supportive of new ideas, and willing to evaluate all opportunities to determine if we would qualify within the existing funding and incentive structures.”
FortisBC rebates helped boost business case
The project, which spanned three years, included the installation of a new condensing natural gas boiler and upgrades to ventilation system controls. The final phase of work saw the installation of new high-efficiency domestic water heater exchangers and reconfiguring existing piping and valves for the recirculation of water by a low-temperature header pump.
The Fraser Health project required two energy studies—both of which were funded by FortisBC—qualifying them for more than $289,000 in FortisBC rebates.
“In health authorities there are always opportunities for energy upgrade projects,” says Mak. “Receiving FortisBC rebates made a critical difference to our business case. If we hadn’t received the incentive offers, the business case wouldn’t have looked so appealing.”
Working collaboratively every step of the way
FortisBC key account manager Jennifer Coulthard was involved in the Ridge Meadows Hospital project from the initial planning phase, through to the delivery of the rebate cheque.
Not only was Coulthard the go-to person for information about rebates, but, according to Cathy McDonald, Fraser Health’s energy specialist, she was able to make valuable connections and share insights from other projects she had worked on. “Jennifer was excellent. She acted as our advocate. She wanted us to succeed and she always had our back,” says McDonald. “She helped us qualify for funding because there are many different ways you can do that.”
Energy savings can benefit health care
Since project completion, Ridge Meadows Hospital reports maintaining an annual GHG emission reduction of 25 per cent and are saving approximately 9,800 gigajoules of natural gas per year, equal to almost 25 per cent of the hospital’s annual natural gas use. And, the hospital reports the savings were achieved without sacrificing Ridge Meadows Hospital’s ability to provide safe, comfortable, high-quality care to patients.
Even bigger rebates
To help their commercial customers recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, FortisBC is now offering even bigger rebates* on select high-efficiency commercial heating equipment and products for both upgrades and new construction projects. For example, the maximum rebate on a high-efficiency boiler has increased from $45,000 to $60,000.
Custom projects, like the one undertaken by Ridge Meadow’s Hospital, are also eligible for increased energy study funding.
The even bigger rebates are effective until the end of 2021. Learn more at fortisbc.com/bigger. That’s energy at work.
*Bigger rebates on select upgrades are available until December 31, 2021. Bigger rebates on commercial furnaces are available until March 31, 2021. Participants must be an owner, long-term leaseholder or builder/developer. Rebate applications must be submitted within 365 days of the purchase date of products. Only available to FortisBC commercial natural gas and electricity customers and commercial municipal electricity customers of Penticton, Summerland, Grand Forks and Nelson Hydro. Additional terms and conditions apply.
