energy
energy

Energy Issues- Trent University

This page is devoted to current and recent energy issues on which the EAB has worked.

  • For current and recent information on energy consumption and Programs to reduce energy, see the Trent Sustainability web site.
  • For older & historical information on energy issues previously worked on by the EAB, see the Energy Archives section.

 

Green Building and LEED Certification: The Case For Trent University

In June 2007 the EAB delivered a proposal for new buildings to be LEED-certified. Currently Trent is considering building the new proposed Athletic Complex to meet LEED certification. View this document (pdf) . See more about this topic in the Energy Archives section.

Rooftop Gardens

A sub-committee of EAB, exploring the technology and issues surrounding green roofs and rooftop gardens, has produced a report for viewing: Rooftop Gardens (pdf; courtesy Ms. Kimberley Zipple).

Trent has two buildings with a green roof, the Environmental Science Centre (ESC), and the Chemical Science Building (CSB). The ESC, built in 1991, has had a garden on its roof since the last 1990's, and grows food for Trent's student run Seasoned Spoon. Crops are also monitored for air pollution damage. The CSB roof has some green space, where assorted flowers, grasses, and other ground covers grow.

Below: The Environmental Science Centre rooftop vegetable garden.

 

Hydroelectric Power Development on the Otonabee River

Trent has been running and receiving electricity from an existing hydroelectric power facility, the Stan Adamson Powerhouse (see image below), located on the Otonabee River just downstream from the Trent Boathouse area. This facility is very old and proposals have been put forward to upgrade it and improve its efficiency.

A second hydroelectric power project has been proposed on the Otonabee River in Trent's vicinity a few times since the 1990s. Recently this proposal has become a reality and construction is underway on a new hydroelectric power station, located on the Otonabee River just north of Trent University. Trent has leased the land on which the lock 22-23 waterpower development project will be constructed. There was an ad in the Arthur (Nov. 13-17, 2008) about the EIA screening report and public consultations for the Lock 22/23 Project, and an Open House was held December 6. Further information can be found on the web site of the development company, Trent Rapids Power Corporation.

Below: A view of the dam by Lock 22, on the Otonabee River.

 

Sleeping Computers Help Keep Trent Green

Most computers manufactured in the last five years or so have the ability to enter a low-energy setting. Many users of laptop or portable computers will be aware of energy-saving settings available to extend the life of a battery. Well, those same settings can also help save energy.
Setting up your computer to take advantage of these features, and turning it off when not in use, can save Trent energy and money, and reduce climate change impacts by reducing Trent's CO2 emissions from energy consumption. While you are at it, check your printer, fax machine, monitor/television, photocopier, and scanner, for sleep mode options and enable/use them.

See EAB's page devoted to this issue.

 

Purchasing Energy-Efficient Appliances and Equipment

As per Trent's Environmental Procurement Policy, the purchase of new appliances and equipment should consider the energy consumption of said equipment. Here are some helpful hints for those purchasing equipment and appliances.

All electrical appliances and equipment have two price tags. The first is the initial purchase price, and the second is the price to operate it over the lifetime of the equipment.

The EnerGuide Program, managed by Natural Resources Canada, monitors and rates appliances for their energy consumption. While some of the appliance types rated are rarely purchased at Trent, some may be more common, including refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers. These ratings can be used to help choose more energy-efficient products.

The Energy Star Program, managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, is the U.S. version of EnerGuide, where appliances are rated. This system covers more different kinds of items, such as electronics, and can be used in the same manner as the EnerGuide Program.

Be wary of equipment that consumes 'standby power' (also called 'leaking electricity' and 'electricity vampires'). Such items consume electricity when they are plugged in, whether they are doing what they were meant to do or not (in other words the 'off' switch doesn't stop the device from consuming energy). Many manuals and specifications for these items DO NOT include the standby power consumption (although this is gradually changing), so one must ask the manufacturer. Examples include:

  • Items with a remote control that turns the item on and off
    In order to respond to the signal from the remote control, these items must consume power even when they are turned off. Examples include DVD players, televisions, air conditioners, even ceiling fans. As an example, it is estimated that over the lifetime of typical use, a DVD player's total energy consumption is composed of 60% standby power!
  • Items with a soft touch key pad
    The keys in a soft touch key pad require electricity to register that they have been touched (unlike a mechanical switch). As long as the unit is plugged in, electricity is being consumed waiting to record any pushed keys. These sorts of key pads have become common on large and small kitchen appliances.
  • Items that use an AC to DC converter to obtain their electricity
    Many electronics require their electricity to be in DC form, and we have AC electricity form coming from our wall outlets, so they have an AC to DC converter, either at the end of the power cord, or perhaps built into the unit. This converter will consume some electricity all the time it is plugged in. Examples include battery chargers (for rechargeable batteries, cell phones, computers, etc.), many fluorescent lamps, etc.
  • Items that contain a clock or other continuous running light or LCD
    Many microwaves have a clock, which consumes electricity all the time (whether the clock is set or not). Many power bars display lights when running, showing their status. There are numerous other examples. Some of these, such as the clock, may be desired, but be aware of these features when purchasing.
  • Items that contain a sensor
    Many items contain a sensor that operates all the time. Sometimes this is desirable (e.g., a motion sensor light), and sometimes it is unnecessary. Some items have sensors that detect light ('on at dusk'), and that detect motion, for example.

Watch for equipment that has standby, sleep, or hibernation modes (in place of those that do not). Most computer equipment (computers, monitors, printers, scanners, etc.) have these modes, and if set up correctly, will consume much less power when left on. If you have equipment you expect to be left on, try to choose equipment that has lower energy consumption when sleeping, and set up the equipment to use these modes.

Further Reading:

Standby energy can be reduced or even eliminated by unplugging the device when turning it off, or by putting plugging it into a power bar and turning off the power bar.

Older appliances and equipment, while less expensive to purchase and better for the environment ("reuse" before recycle), can be a mixed bag on the energy consumption front. On the one hand, you might find older equipment lacks a lot of the features that consume standby energy (=good), but you might also find older equipment consumes much more energy to accomplish the same task (=bad). These have to be evaluated case by case. The energy consumption of some equipment has not changed much over the years (e.g., dryer), but most have improved dramatically (e.g., refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers). The table below shows trends in average energy consumption of different appliances over time (data from Natural Resources Canada).

Average Annual Energy Consumption of Major Appliances (kWh/year) 1984 - 2006. Note the drastic increase in efficiency over the past 25 years.

Appliance Year
1984 1990 1997 1999 2002 2009 (most efficient)
Refrigerators, top mounted 16.5-18.4 cu. ft. 1457 1044 664 664 514 360 - 380
Freezers, standard chest 813 714 376 383 368 190 - 250
Dishwashers, standard 1213 1026 649 640 592 180 - 250
Clothes Washers, top loading 1243 1218 930 860 779 180 - 250
--- front loading
        299 100 - 130
Clothes Dryers, standard 1214 1103 887 908 916 about 900
Ranges, 30 inch self cleaning 790 727 759 742 735 440 - 470