We are greening defence infrastructure to reduce our carbon footprint and provide our military personnel with sustainable and efficient facilities in which to work and train.
On June 21, 2021, the Department of National Defence awarded a new energy performance contract (EPC) to upgrade facilities at CFB Halifax, 12 Wing Shearwater, Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (Bedford), and Defence and Research Development Canada (Atlantic). A total of 112 facilities in these locations will be upgraded, reducing the energy costs of our facilities in the region by nearly $3 million annually, or 19 percent. Energy retrofits will also lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 15,000 tonnes per year or 22 percent. That's the equivalent of taking over 3,250 cars off the road!
The $54-million contract for this work was awarded to Johnson Controls Canada L.P. of Kanata, Ontario. We anticipate all retrofits and upgrades will be complete by summer 2024, sustaining over 200 jobs in the Halifax area during upgrades.
This project will help us meet our target of reducing our GHG emissions by 40 percent by 2025, five years ahead of schedule, and will contribute to the federal government's target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Quotes
"These investments in energy efficient upgrades at CFB Halifax and the surrounding area are a demonstration of the Government of Canada's focus on reducing National Defence's greenhouse gas emissions, lowering energy costs, and meeting our greening targets. We are committed to ensuring our personnel have modern infrastructure that supports their operational requirements while, at the same time, investing in greening efforts to benefit future generations of Canadians."
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence
"Investing in energy efficiency is good for our environment and good for the economy. The energy efficiency upgrades at 12 Wing Shearwater and across the Halifax Regional Municipality will help us reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions while reducing energy costs. It's good to see contracts of this size in our region, as these upgrades will provide green jobs here at home."
Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth - Cole Harbour
"Nova Scotia is on the front lines of climate change, with rising sea level and extreme weather events posing a serious threat to our region. Nova Scotians expect their government to lead the way in reducing emissions to protect our planet for future generations, and that is what this $54 million contract is all about. Greening government operations at the Department of National Defence in Nova Scotia will support our target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, all while creating the jobs of tomorrow."
Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax
Quick facts
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An energy performance contract is a contract with an energy services company, where the company finances energy retrofit projects at a base or wing and guarantees the savings. DND then uses the savings from the reduction in our energy costs to pay back the company over a five- to 15-year period, limiting upfront costs for the government.
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Our facilities remain fully functional during the project, with no impact on military operations.
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Work will include installing solar panels and energy-efficient, automated lighting, heating, and cooling systems, updating central heating plants, reducing water usage, and more.
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We expect to see the first emissions reductions and energy savings in fall 2022, with the full reduction in energy costs by summer 2024.
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In addition to Halifax, projects are underway at Borden, Kingston, Bagotville, Greenwood, Valcartier, Esquimalt, and Petawawa. Similar contracts are in development for bases in Alert, Comox, Trenton, Shilo, and Gagetown.
