NB Invests in Retrofits and Renewable Energy Initiatives

February 2, 2017

The provincial government is investing more than $13.4 million this year in energy retrofits and renewable energy initiatives in public buildings.

Work includes lighting upgrades at schools, heating and ventilation work in more than 40 schools, and projects at a number of hospitals.

The 2016-17 investment in retrofits and renewable energy builds on an increased budget of $12.5 million in 2015-16.

The continuous increase in investment has allowed for lighting upgrades at more than 200 schools, heating and ventilation work in more than 50 schools, and various projects at several hospitals. These initiatives aim to reduce energy consumption, cut down on energy costs, and lead to the adoption of more sustainable options.

The initiatives include:

• implementing energy management and upgrading controls

• demand side management for electricity

• energy recovery systems for ventilation systems

• lighting upgrades and retrofits

• heat pump improvements

• water conservation

“We know that every dollar we spend today on projects like these saves us money down the road, addresses our energy consumption, and can improve the experience in public buildings,” says Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Bill Fraser. “That is why we are committed to these projects as part of our infrastructure renewal efforts.”

In addition to energy retrofits and renewable energy initiatives in public buildings, the department has implemented several initiatives to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the government’s vehicle fleet. Transportation, construction and maintenance operations also apply energy efficiency technologies to lower energy consumption.