Honeywell upgrades Cambrian College buildings

  • October 25, 2021
  • Steve Rogerson

Ontario-based Cambrian College is working with Honeywell to upgrade its building technology to create a safer environment for students and staff.

Cambrian College is a post-secondary institution in northern Ontario. Honeywell has announced the next phase of a performance contract project designed to reduce carbon emissions and utility costs and provide a safer experience for staff and students.

The improvements, implemented through an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), are projected to support the college’s sustainability commitment by replacing aging equipment and updating lighting. The work could save the college at least $480,000 within the first year. The energy and operational savings achieved by the measures are guaranteed by Honeywell and will help self-fund the project.

“A leading mission of Cambrian College is our commitment to reduce our carbon impact,” said Kristine Morrisey, vice president at Cambrian College. “This project will allow us to do just that. We anticipate the project will reduce approximately 300 tons of greenhouse gases a year, which is the equivalent of removing close to 100 medium-size cars from the road every year. In addition, the project is supporting the modernisation of our campus, in both its digital and physical space, which ultimately will provide our students and faculty an improved education environment.”

Honeywell first began work with Cambrian College in 2011 and the next project phase includes:

  • Geothermal heating: Implementing an energy-efficient geo-exchange system to provide supplemental heating and cooling sourced from the earth to create a better heat transfer medium than traditional air source systems. It will help offset boiler consumption in Cambrian’s Sustainable Energy Centre building’s water source heat pump lamp.
  • Upgraded LED lighting: Installing smart interior lighting to understand space usage. In addition, LED fixtures and lighting are being installed to improve energy savings.
  • High-efficiency chiller: Replacing end-of-life air-cooled chiller with a high-efficiency unit to help improve occupant comfort.
  • Building management system: Expanding and optimising the campus’ Honeywell Enterprise Buildings Integrator (EBI) building automation system to support energy conservation and create more comfortable learning environments.

“This project is another example of how Cambrian College is cementing itself as a leader in the field of technology education,” said Michael Pringle, senior business consultant at Honeywell Building Technologies. “It has been an exciting project to partner with the college on over the last decade to develop unique ways to support their energy efficiency, technology and sustainability goals. Our current phase takes this to a new level as we break ground with a geothermal heating system and deploy solutions that will help improve the college for staff and students.”

Earlier this year, Honeywell pledged its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality in its own operations and facilities by 2035. Since then, Honeywell has announced sustainability initiatives with partners such as Kunsan Air Base, Sydney Opera House and Port Esbjerg to help reduce their carbon impact.

Cambrian College is northern Ontario’s largest college, with more than 80 programmes. Its main campus is in Greater Sudbury, with satellite centres in Espanola and Little Current.