MONTREAL, Feb. 9, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - After implementing an efficient, cutting-edge energy-saving program, the Space for Life has now been honoured at both the provincial and national levels for its initiative! On February 8, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) presented its 2012 Sustainable Communities Award, in the Energy category, to the Space for Life for the quality of its program. This distinction comes on top of the Énergia award, in the Existing Buildings, Institutional category, presented on February 1 by the Association québécoise pour la maîtrise de l'énergie (AQME), and the honourable mention in the ICI Building - Innovative Practices category received by the Space for Life at the 23rd edition of the Contech Innovation and Sustainable Development Trophies on October 13, 2011.
The energy-saving program, in short
The energy-saving program at the Space for Life, focusing mainly on energy efficiency, environmental protection and the reliability of facilities, has improved the energy efficiency of the Montréal Biodôme, Insectarium and Botanical Garden through the use of renewable energy, energy recovery and transfer and system optimization, among other features. The three institutions' energy consumption has been cut by 40% and greenhouse gas emissions are down by 44%, leading to $1.3 million in annual savings. The program, which was fully introduced and approved in late October 2010, will pay for itself by 2017 thanks to lower energy consumption.
Charles-Mathieu Brunelle, Executive Director of the Space for Life, noted that "We are very proud of the recognition our energy-saving program has received. It has had an extremely positive impact. The program is a concrete sign of our commitment to the environment and sustainable development. I hope that other municipalities and boroughs will be inspired by our example to launch equally innovative projects."
Recognition and awards
The FCM, the voice of municipal governments across Canada, pays tribute every year to noteworthy community initiatives in the field of sustainable development. Its award in the energy category emphasizes the quality of programs that focus on producing, conserving or distributing energy, and particularly those that include the production of energy from renewable sources (e.g. solar or geothermal). On February 8, Jean Bouvrette, Engineer and Section Head, who was responsible for the project at the Space for Life, André Rochette, President of Ecosystem, the partner in the project, and Claude Dauphin, Mayor of the Lachine borough, Second Vice-President of the FCM and representative of the city of Montréal on this occasion, all attended the award ceremony.
Other distinctions
The Space for Life also received an award from the AQME, a provincial association devoted to promoting and developing energy efficiency and encouraging innovation in this field. In its latest annual Énergia awards, the AQME also recognized the originality of the energy-saving program, its energy efficiency performance, sustainability and economic, environmental and social benefits. The honourable mention in the Contech Innovation and Sustainable Development Trophies recognized the bold use of energy recovery and transfer technologies as part of the energy-saving program, and the installation of geothermal systems at the same time.
The Biodôme, Insectarium, Botanical Garden and Planetarium are launching a daring, creative urban movement, urging everyone to rethink the bonds between humankind and nature.
The Space for Life is also a place where people come together to create and to cultivate a new way of living, shaped by Montrealers and people from around the world.
Nadine Fortin, Communications Co-ordinator
514 868-3053/ 514 250-7753
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Anik Robichaud-Gauvin, Marketing Representative
514 868-3123
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