SLC energy efficient

St. Lawrence College’s Energy Management Program is almost complete, and students and staff at all three campuses are enjoying cleaner, safer and healthier classrooms, laboratories and residences as a result.

Once fully completed, the Energy Management program is estimated to save the college $550,000 annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,350 tonnes, the equivalent of planting 270 trees or taking 375 cars of our roads. As well, the wind turbine on the Cornwall campus was repaired in August, making St. Lawrence College the only college in Ontario that features a working wind turbine to generate electricity.

All three campuses are now enjoying better heating and cooling systems, making classrooms more comfortable. Lighting systems have been fitted with new technology to help reduce energy consumption and improve aesthetics, making it easier for students and staff alike to see white boards, presentations, additional visuals and of course each other. “The objective of the Energy Management Program is to create an environment where students can reach their full potential,” said Blayne Mackey, director, Facility Management Services for St. Lawrence College. “Since our last communication, a lot of new improvements and retrofits have been made to the college as we follow through on our commitment to creating a healthier learning environment, and create green buildings that reduce our eco footprint.”

Sustainable design and construction practices can considerably reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and its occupants. St. Lawrence College facilities now incorporate several sustainable features including new Building Automation Systems to help reduce waste by turning off lights when classrooms are not in use and new boiler rooms that run on natural gas, making the units more environmentally friendly.

On Nov. 18, the 40-year-old chimney stack was removed from the Kingston campus. The campus is now being heated with high efficiency, low emission natural gas hot water boilers that no longer require the large stack to exhaust the products of combustion. The large steel chimney was recently removed after the successful conversion of the heating plant that provides hot water heating to almost half of the campus.

Other improvements are also making campuses safer. Fire alarm and PA system upgrades have been completed to ensure better security. The new systems will allow campus security to easily communicate warnings and announcements to different areas of campus grounds.

All of these improvements and new sustainable features will significantly reduce operating and maintenance costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower our eco footprint, promote energy savings, improve health and educational achievement, and effect positive environmental changes.