Rebates, incentives and a view to the future highlight spring meeting
April 27, 2017 | By HPAC Magazine
Rebates, incentives and a view to the future highlight spring meeting
Despite North America being in the middle of a trajectory to NZE, speaker Mike Lio of BuildABILITY Corp. advised attendees to step into it carefully. He has been involved in a four-year project through CanmetENERGY to explore net zero housing.
Some group work was required during keynote speaker Barry Wright’s presentation.
Over 100 members and guests joined The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) and CISCO at the Waterpark Place Innovation Centre in Toronto for the 2017 HRAI Spring Meeting.
Guest speakers included Barry Wright of Grosvenor Training, Mike Lio of BuildABILITY, Bruce Manwaring of Enbridge, Ruth Weiner of RBC and Katie Fotheringham of Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
Fotheringham noted that IESO, which includes 69 local distribution companies, has enhancements coming through the Save On Energy Program; namely a push on air source heat pumps and a $30 incentive for circulating pumps.
Percentage of savings and incentives will be simplified, noted Manwaring, who is manager, residential and new construction. Enbridge is delivering The Home Energy Conservation Program in partnership with the Ontario government. Manwaring provided a preview of the new version and noted that there are incentives of up to $2,100 available to homeowners. Homeowners must prequalify with a certified energy advisor before completing an energy audit and receiving an evaluation of the home’s current energy use. An energy rating, using NRCan’s EnerGuide Rating System, is provided to the homeowner. Editor’s note: The program has since rolled out (www.knowyourenergyscore.ca).
Sadia Zafar, program assistant for HRAI’s Manufacturers and Wholesalers Division.
In addition to sessions on rebates and incentives, net zero energy (NZE) and the impact of green buildings, there was a tour of the Cisco facilty, which is thought to be the world’s smartest building.
In other HRAI news, Sadia Zafar has been named Program Assistant for the Manufacturers and Wholesalers Division. She joined HRAI in the fall of 2014 serving in a part-time position of program assistant, support services for the director, programs and relations, as well as other program areas including due diligence, boiler and pressure vessel and the ASHRAE Toronto Chapter. Zafar can be reached at 905.602.4700 ext. 265 or e-mail szafar@hrai.ca.
