Case Study
Simcoe Place, Cadillac Fairview
Making energy
efficiency a
competitive
advantage
Left to right: Victor da Rosa, Energy Expert, Toronto Hydro. Nathan Mordaunt, General Manager, Simcoe Place, Cadillac Fairview
By the numbers
Upgrades included lighting and
controls, variable frequency
drives, air conditioning and
transformer optimization.
3,968,000 kWh/year
ENERGY SAVINGS
$584,300
INCENTIVE
$555,000
TOTAL ANNUAL COST SAVINGS*
4 YEARS
PAYBACK WITH INCENTIVE
*Calculations are based on an average electricity cost of $0.14 per kWh.
Built in 1995, Cadillac Fairview’s Simcoe Place was the only major office
tower constructed between the recession and the subsequent real estate
boom, establishing itself as a landmark in Toronto’s financial district. Today,
thanks to award-winning conservation initiatives and an impressive energy
management plan, it’s ranked in the 98th percentile among the most
energy-efficient buildings in Canada.
When it began to pursue energy savings as part of Cadillac Fairview’s
“Green at Work Sustainability Strategy,” Simcoe Place worked with
Enerlife Consulting to analyze its energy profile. Systematic reviews of
trends and data identified where the building was consuming the most
energy. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” says General
Manager, Nathan Mordaunt. “We were able to calculate the building’s
lighting and HVAC load right down to the square foot.”
At any given time, Simcoe Place has up to five energy-efficiency projects
underway – and more planned. While some projects are more comprehensive, it’s the simple, innovative solutions that Mordaunt finds most
compelling. Take the example of a recent transformer optimization project
that uncovered that only three of the building’s six transformers were
really necessary. “It was a $10,000 project that yielded 400,000 kWh
in electricity savings,” says Mordaunt. By cycling the transformers, the
lifespan is longer, maintenance is reduced and there has also been a
significant drop in cooling costs.
“This building is now as efficient as
any new LEED-certified building on
the market. That’s how many
efficiencies we’ve found.”
Nathan Mordaunt, General Manager,
Simcoe Place, Cadillac Fairview
Another non-intrusive project had a big impact on the building’s
lighting load. After discovering that lighting was at nearly double the
required levels, Simcoe Place reduced T8 lamps from two down to
one in thousands of fixtures. This pragmatic fix cut energy use automatically by 50% throughout the building. If some tenants were hesitant
to move down to a single bulb, they were given the option to switch
from two 32W T8 lamps to two 28W T8 bulbs. This reduced energy
use by 12.5% without a noticeable change in lighting levels.
Incentives made the business case feasible
Simcoe Place is now saving close to $0.70 per square foot every
year, which translates into about $555,000 a year in energy costs.
Toronto Hydro worked closely with the team at Simcoe Place to identify
savings opportunities, prioritize key projects and help secure funding.
For Mordaunt, the incentives are part and parcel of every project.
“The total savings and return can be compelling,” he explains.
Get incentives to upgrade
Contact our energy experts
today – we know your business,
your priorities and which technologies will help you cut costs
in your building. We can also
help you apply for incentives to
strengthen your business case.
Ask us how to combine multiple
projects, such as lighting and
occupancy controls, to maximize
your return on investment.
Energy efficiency is a competitive advantage
For Mordaunt, maintaining a building to sustainable standards is
expected from tenants, so much so that green initiatives are now a
prominent part of Simcoe Place’s tenant retention focus. A green
committee, facilitated with JLL, also regularly distributes collateral
covering everything from energy conservation to recycling to green
supplier procurement policies. “Energy efficiency has become a
differentiator in our business,” he says. “It’s a new way to add value,
especially for companies looking to attract top talent. And that’s a
win for tenants and building owners alike.”
Contact Us
We’ll help create an energy
action plan for your business
416-542-3388
[email protected]
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