Johnson Controls, National Defence Collaborate to Drive CA$3M in Targeted Annual Savings and 23% in Targeted GHG Emissions Cuts Through Green Defence Infrastructure Initiative at CFB Halifax
November 23, 2021
Johnson Controls, a global provider for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, recently announced it is collaborating with Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) to achieve decarbonization and infrastructure improvements designed to improve Defence Team member quality of life and generate long-term utility and maintenance cost efficiencies.
The multi-phase project will be completed at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax and other Defence facilities in the region in alignment with DND’s Greening Government Strategy, which includes a pledge to achieve net-zero government operations by 2050. Through Base-wide updates, CFB Halifax aims to achieve annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of 23%, or 15K tonnes, and generate CA$3M in savings annually, once upgrades have been completed.
This Johnson Controls collaboration with the Department of National Defence marks the fourth DND green defence infrastructure project contracted by the company in 2021. After evaluating existing infrastructure to identify opportunities for enhancement, Johnson Controls has planned system updates in 112 buildings across the Base and in the surrounding area to provide energy savings and reduce GHG emissions.
By modernizing infrastructure with the latest energy-efficient assets, Johnson Controls will help the Base reduce long-term utility and maintenance costs and improve quality of life for Defence Team members employed across the Base and surrounding DND properties. Upgrades are being designed to decrease the Base’s annual electricity consumption by 22%, GHG emissions by 23% and natural gas use by 21%.
“The Canadian government has set forward-thinking environmental targets for its agencies, including DND, and they require innovative solutions to get there,” said Nate Manning, president of Building Solutions North America at Johnson Controls. “Our team has worked to develop a net zero sustainability approach for the Base that is in lock step with Canada’s Greening Government Strategy. Through a combination of integrated solutions and training, we will give CFB Halifax facility upgrades they need to support a healthy planet while also prioritizing employee welfare and cost reduction.”
The performance contract, valued at CA$53M (excluding taxes), includes a multi-pronged strategy:
Reducing energy needs
Johnson Controls experts will optimize existing equipment performance by reducing operating times through controls optimization. Optimization upgrades will include the integration of variable frequency drives (VFD) and occupancy sensors, operational schedules, setpoint adjustments, carbon dioxide sensors and control point additions. Additional low investment measures like retro-commissioning and piping insulation will provide further energy reduction.
Decarbonization and education
Johnson Controls will support the Canadian Government’s decarbonization goals through the construction of solar wall technology to support low-carbon heating and operations, minimizing GHG emissions on the Base and contributing to a healthier community overall. Johnson Controls experts will also carry out an environmental awareness initiative with the Base’s occupants to promote sustainable best practices.
Canadian government agencies are directed to track and disclose major facilities’ potable water consumption by 2022. To support the optimization of water consumption in buildings that historically consume substantial amounts of water at CFB Halifax, Johnson Controls will update water fixtures and controls.
Increasing the efficiency of heating production
In addition to installing optimization controls and upgrading outdated equipment, Johnson Controls building experts will collaborate with CFB Halifax leaders to identify new strategies and processes to improve energy production. Proposed measures to increase efficient energy production include heat recovery, steam trap repairs, high efficiency boilers and heat pumps.
In addition to its collaboration with DND to complete upgrades at CFB Halifax and the surrounding area, Johnson Controls is also contracted to perform similar sustainability upgrades at CFB Bagotville, CFB Patewawa and CFB Kingston.
