After 18 months of work, the Cégep régional de Lanaudière completed an energy efficiency project involving its buildings in Joliette, L’Assomption and Repentigny. This project is part of a sustainable development approach which Cégep régional de Lanaudière can be proud of. Thanks to innovative solutions designed by Énergère, the Cégep modernized its mechanical equipment, reduced energy costs by 33.5% and its greenhouse gases emissions by 67.5%.
The project involved the relocation and reconstruction of the Cégep de Joliette’s boiler room and introduced aerothermal technology, a process by which solar energy contained naturally in the air is captured and transferred to the heating system of the building. The project also includes the modernization of nearly 8,000 lighting fixtures on the three sites and the optimization of heating and cooling controls.
The initial investment of $5.5 million will be completely recovered by 2026, taking into account energy savings of $428,000/year as well as $884,000 in financial support from Hydro-Québec, Gaz Metro and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Research and Science.
The building operators attended several training modules to better understand the technologies installed and the new control system. This acquired knowledge of the new realities of the buildings will help maximize the savings. As part of the energy efficiency project and Earth Day, the Cégep régional de Lanaudière is implementing a series of activities for students, starting April 22, 2015. The environmental awareness campaign will continue in May, in collaboration with Énergère.