“We’re constantly recommissioning equipment and evaluating our buildings’ energy needs over time,” says Pat Pietromonaco, senior director of property management for Facilities Management. “It takes diligent monitoring if we want to keep meeting our own strict standards.”
Mindful renovations also contribute to Concordia’s ongoing efficiency.
“The current transformation of the R. Howard Webster Library Building, for example, is our first endeavour with LED lighting systems — installing both the fixture and the ballast together,” Pietromonaco says. He adds that they’re also using low-flow faucets and toilets, along with as much natural light as possible.
Concordia’s energy game plan
When asked where Concordia’s energy-management plan is going in the near future, Pietromonaco stresses the importance of implementing more comprehensive documentation to track his department’s methodology and processes.
“We need to validate that we’re meeting the expected outcomes in regards to energy consumption. To help us take a more introspective approach, we plan to further document what’s driving our energy programs toward sustainability, while outlining our contribution to the institution’s social responsibility,” he says.
Next steps include the development of an energy-management program, which will serve to assist Facilities Management in instilling a culture of change to save energy.
In the meantime, Pietromonaco urges the Concordia community to contribute by turning off computers and office lighting at night. “Every little effort makes a big difference,” he says.
Learn more about energy efficiency within Concordia's Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering (BCEE).