Queen’s University continues to go green

Restore Our Earth is the call to action for Earth Day 2021 and a series of projects in buildings utilized by Faculty of Arts and Science researchers are putting the institution on the right path to achieve the goals outlined in the Queen’s Climate Action Plan including reducing greenhouse gas emissions 70 per cent by 2030 and being carbon neutral by 2040.

This new project is building on the success of the $900,000 project at Chernoff Hall in 2017 which saw new heat recovery glycol coils installed on top of the building with an average energy savings of approximately $100,000 per year. At the time it was the single largest greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction project in the history of Queen’s University, the West Campus Heating Conversion in 2019 has since exceeded it.

The new project currently in the design phase is an energy reduction project at both the Biosciences Complex and Chernoff Hall. The project focuses on the upgraded controls and optimization of the Air Handling Units in Chernoff Hall and the replacement of old fume hoods and a heat recovery system installed in the Biosciences Complex. The project is projected to save 2,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year or the amount of energy used by 218 homes.

The design development was funded via the Sustainability Working Group which is implementing the Climate Action Plan.

“Queen’s continues to lead in making meaningful investments in carbon emissions reductions projects which support our Climate Action Plan,” says Nathan Splinter, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Queen’s Facilities. “On Earth Day it’s a great reminder that we only have one planet, which we share, and that our natural spaces and vegetation are the only way to absorb the carbon emission we create from fossil fuels. Reducing emissions and protecting and enhancing our green spaces are two things we all can focus on after Earth Day to do our part to protect the planet from climate change.”

Dave Gerrish, Energy Specialist, Queen’s Facilities, says the plan is to upgrade controls on 171 fume hoods in Chernoff and replace 60 in the Biosciences Complex. This work would also include occupancy sensors to detect when someone is in the room so the fume hood can run accordingly.

“We also asked the researchers in the Biosciences Complex if they needed all their fume hoods or if they could share them,” Gerrish adds. “Six fume hoods were identified that could be removed. We are really pleased with the collaboration as fume hoods use a lot of energy, but they are essential as labs require a much higher level of ventilation. They require the air to be replaced every –four to six minutes to prevent any buildup of fumes from projects and experiments, as well as maintaining temperature levels that are vital for work with solvents. In contrast, a typical building on campus will see its air replaced every 20 - 30 minutes. It may seem like a small difference in time but in terms of energy use it is a 400 per cent difference.”

Heat recovery glycol coils will also be installed on the Biosciences Complex. One innovation being utilized in the project is that exhaust air will be used to help pre-heat incoming air. By recycling the heat already created, the amount of energy being used overall will be reduced.

FAS researcher Brian Cumming, Biology department head, is pleased with this initiative even though it will cause some disruption to research over the implementation of this project.

“The vast majority of our faculty support this initiative. We realise it is our collective responsibility to reduce our energy usage and to promote sustainability initiatives. After all, many of us study the impact of climate change at the individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels of organization.  We also agree that pending changes in climate represent one of the greatest challenges to the maintenance of biodiversity on our planet, and that concrete measure need to taken by individuals, organizations (including universities), and government.”

To learn more about the Queen’s Climate Action Plan, download a copy.