Enerpro Systems Corp. - Helping to Reduce Energy Consumption Through Personal Responsibility

Publish Date: January 2010

A North Vancouver company has created a powerful tool that will track energy and water consumption — and how much it costs — for every household in the Millennium Water project.

Enerpro Systems Corp. has pulled together a variety of technologies into one control system that collects information on energy and water use in each unit of the community that will be used as the Athlete's Village during the 2010 Winter Games.

Company president Nick Farina calls it the "backbone" of a complex metering system designed to make Millennium Water a model for sustainable building practices.
By measuring, displaying and charging residents for their own use of water, gas and electricity, the system will increase people's awareness of their energy consumption and change their habits.

And it's not only the Millennium Water residents who benefit, Farina said.
"Reducing the energy costs benefits the owners of the condos, but the resulting reduction in greenhouse gases will benefit the whole city," he said.

In most condominium projects, owners pay for some of their energy use, but they share other among all residents. For instance, the cost of hot water and natural gas for fireplaces is usually shared among the owners.

With Enerpro's integrated system, which is unique in North America, each unit's energy and water use is tracked and owners are billed for their personal consumption.
"In a typical strata, you pay for a share of your neighbour's consumption so you're not as careful as if you are personally responsible," Farina said.

"If you're paying for your share of energy use, you are more aware and will use less — or pay for what you consume. When we have personal responsibility for our consumption, we have tremendous results."

Providing the energy-monitoring system for the Millennium Water community has given Enerpro the opportunity to highlight its unique product, but even more valuable is the chance for the company to contribute to changing the way people use resources, Farina said.

"For our little company to be involved in this project is huge, and on the sustainability side, if we can help reduce consumption, it makes this project relevant," he said.

"The Athlete's Village will have all kinds of positive impacts on developments across North America and the world. The community will be virtually pollution-free — it is going to be a wonderful place."

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