2023-11-22 05:00:00
Quebec is tackling the energy efficiency of large buildings and intends to table a bill aimed at saving more energy annually than the production of Romaine. There would be a more restrictive standard for new buildings.
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The Minister of the Environment Benoit Charette would like to tackle “energy sieves”, our Parliamentary Office has learned. These “strainers” are poorly insulated buildings that use energy unnecessarily and those that do not reuse the thermal vapors that escape wisely.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
In this bill which would be tabled in the National Assembly these days, the government would intend to evaluate and rate old buildings, then raise the standards for the construction of new buildings.
Large commercial, industrial and residential buildings would be covered by this new regulation. Following an evaluation, the rating of the buildings would be made public.
Landlords would have a strict time frame to comply.
According to our information, Quebec estimates that its initiative would allow energy savings representing more than 8 terawatt hours (TWh), or more than the production of the Romaine hydroelectric complex.
Remember that to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and carry out the numerous industrial projects in its battery sector, Quebec will have to find and/or produce more than 100 additional TWh.
Energy programs
The government would like to include a new environmental standard in its building code. All new construction would be subject to it.
The Ministry of the Environment would thus like to accelerate changes in habits, improve the airtightness of buildings and reduce energy consumption.
Although there might be penalties attached to this bill, the department would mainly rely on the carrot by banking on already existing energy improvement programs.
The government would take back the recipe which allowed it to strengthen the standard for the sale of electric vehicles (zero emissions).
Thus, the government would like these programs and the strengthening of rules to accelerate change for buildings.
Circular energy
Through the new legislation, Quebec would focus, for example, on the reuse of thermal vapors produced by certain polluters. Since 2021, the City of Quebec has sold thermal steam from its incinerator (see photo) to the Enfant-Jésus megahospital so that it can heat itself. The incinerator is one of the biggest polluters in Quebec.
The incinerator steam recovery project received federal and provincial funding of $44 million to allow the CHU to use it.
Possible ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings:
– Measure energy consumption (smart thermostats)
– Focus on insulation (high performance building envelopes for the commercial and industrial sectors)
– Install a good ventilation system (air exchanger)
– Buy “Energy Star” certified equipment
– Install LED lighting
– Upgrade to LEED standards (improve the sustainability of buildings by taking into account site layout, efficient water management, energy consumption, choice of materials, air quality and special design features)
Source: Business Development Bank of Canada
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