Thermenex Projects: Innovative HVAC Solutions in Action
Our Thermal Gradient Header (TGH) framework has proven success reducing energy costs and carbon emissions in various hospitals, post-secondary buildings, data centers, recreation and community centers, institutional buildings, office buildings and diverse mixed-use buildings.
Science and Technology Building
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Langara College chose to install their third Thermenex System in the form of a custom built, modular mechanical penthouse called a TIAB (TGH-In-A-Box). Heat reclaim was holistically optimized for the full combined facility which achieved 18 out of 19 LEED energy points. The laboratory building with high air-change rate achieved an EUI of 70Kbtu/sqft. (210kWh/m2).
Project Type
New Construction
Project Focus
Low carbon emissions and LEED Gold certification
Result
EUI of 210 kWh/m2 (approx. 50 from fossil fuels)
Facility Type
Post-Secondary Education
Mechanical Engineer
AME Group
Architect
Teeple Architects
District Energy System
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Four existing city owned buildings were retrofitted with a district energy sharing system. This included the switch over from air-cooled systems to a water-based Thermenex system in occupied buildings. The partially centralized thermal energy plant saw a carbon emission reduction of 54%, beating the target of 40%, by sharing waste thermal energy.
Project Type
Thermenex District Energy Sharing System
Project Focus
GHG reduction through shared energy between multi-use buildings
Result
Over 40% GHG reduction achieved
Facility Type
Municipal Buildings
Mechanical Engineer
IMEC Mechanical
Architect
N/A
Oceanside Health Centre
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As Vancouver Island's most energy-efficient day-use facility, this project met sustainability target allowing for the elimination of a planned geo-exchange field. ‍ Thermenex utilized as an alternative to geo-exchange that helped make this project a top performing building among walk-in health clinics. This project saw 47% energy savings and an 80% carbon emission savings.
Project Type
New Construction
Project Focus
LEED Gold standard for the HVAC system
Result
Best performing facility in its class
Facility Type
Urgent Care
Mechanical Engineer
Williams Engineering
Architect
Site Lines Architects
Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex
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As one of the top performing recreation centres in its class, the second Thermenex system installed reuses the low grade heat from all sources and provides 100% of pool heat demand. The City library, 200 meters away, is also completely heated with reclaimed energy. The energy cost reduction totals 30% with a carbon emission reduction of 70%. This project was also awarded a Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence.
Project Type
Renovation and Addition
Project Focus
Low carbon, high-performance HVAC system
Result
Best performing recreation facility in its class, both energy and carbon emissions
Facility Type
Recreation Centre
Mechanical Engineer
AME Group
Architect
HDR
Earth Sciences Building
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The University of British Columbia chose to work with Thermenex on the third application of our technology largely due to a $1.2 million capital cost reduction. This project is LEED Gold certified operating with a 49% energy cost reduction and 88% carbon emission reduction.
Project Type
New Construction
Project Focus
LEED Gold Mechanical System
Result
Best performing science building on campus
Facility Type
Post-Secondary Education
Mechanical Engineer
Stantec
Architect
Perkins + Will
Student Union Building
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The first application of the Thermenex technology was integrated with a geo-exchange field. The actual electrical energy consumption is now 1/3 of the average of the other buildings on campus despite being fully heated with heat pumps, while the other buildings are heated with boilers. This project obtained LEED Gold with all energy points achieved.
Project Type
Renovation and Addition
Project Focus
LEED Gold 10/10 Energy Points
Result
Net-Zero Carbon
Facility Type
Post-Secondary Education
Mechanical Engineer
Perez Engineering
Architect
Teeple Architects
Nexsource Centre
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The 150,000 sq.ft addition and renovation to the existing recreation facility adding two new ice sheets for a total of three and all new HVAC for the existing aquatic centre. The TGH integrated the HVAC and the ice plant waste heat in a manufactured custom mechanical penthouse. The modern facility is now updated to current ventilation standards, has a sidewalk snow melt system and still saves both energy and carbon compared to the smaller facility it replaced.
Project Type
Renovation and Addition
Project Focus
Provide a sustainable high-performance HVAC system
Result
Uses less energy and emits less carbon than the old facility that was 1/3 the size
Facility Type
Recreation Centre
Mechanical Engineer
IMEC Mechanical
Architect
HDR
St. Paul’s Hospital
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A chiller had reached end of life and complex pumping issues were occurring. Traditional passive run-around loops were under-utilizing exhaust thermal energy and simultaneous heating and cooling opportunities were not being capitalized upon. A collaborative design process resulted in a very simple TGH using a new heat recovery chiller integrating the heating, cooling and heat reclaim systems with the ability to reclaim or reject heat to the exhaust based with temperatures optimized based on the variable demands. This resulted in 800 - 1,100 tons of carbon saved annually with a very short payback on energy cost. This project is now underway using Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP) funding.
Project Type
Renovation
Project Focus
Chiller Replacement with Heat Pump and TGH
Result
Predicted over 800 tons of carbon, under 3-year payback on energy savings
Facility Type
Hospital
Mechanical Engineer
SEC Analytics
Architect
N/A
Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics
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Working with Provincial Health Authority's Energy and Environmental Sustainability (EES) group, WSP was in the beginning stages of adding heat pumps for active heat recovery from a specific source to a specific load. The EES group was also working on the EcoEnergy Project and based on the recommendation to use a TGH as the lowest cost carbon saving option, they expanded the WSP original scope of work to a holistic program which will yield more initial carbon savings and be expandable for future carbon savings as budgets become available.
The TGH that is being added to the central thermal energy plant in the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics building serves a block of buildings which is collectively part of the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Initially the system will save 400 tons of carbon just at the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics building with a planned expansion to eliminate 80% of the carbon from the remaining block of buildings.
Project Type
Renovation
Project Focus
Greenhouse gas reduction and energy sharing between buildings
Result
Projected 400 tons of carbon savings with planned expansion
Facility Type
Hospital
Mechanical Engineer
WSP
Architect
N/A
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