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Deep Energy Retrofit Program (DERP)
The Deep Energy Retrofit Program (DERP) exists to improve the energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings by updating equipment, systems and controls strategies. These projects improve the energy and emissions performance of buildings individually, and also on a campus-wide scale by connecting decentralized heating and cooling infrastructure with Western's energy loop. The energy loop transports heat between buildings, making it possible to redistribute heat from buildings with excess heat to buildings that require heat. On average DERP projects typically achieve a 60-80% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions per building.
- Properly decommissioning systems that are no longer in use
- Right-sizing equipment for efficiency and reducing wear and tear
- Converting from (natural gas) steam heating and humidification to electric heat pumps and evaporative humidifiers
- Switching to variable flow/speed equipment instead of using bypasses and throttling techniques
- Recovering waste heat from equipment and processes and using it for space or water heating
- Updating equipment/building schedules so equipment only operates when needed
- Updating control sequences to ensure that equipment operates in a consistent manner across campus
- Adding monitoring and isolation valves to facilitate maintenance, leak detection and troubleshooting
- Western Interdisciplinary Research Building - In construction
- Biotron - In construction
- Siebens-Drake Research Institute (SDRI) - Completed 2024
- Western Student Recreation Centre (WSRC) - Completed 2023
- Spencer Engineering Building (SEB) - Completed 2019
- Claudette MacKay Lassonde Pavillion (CMLP) - Completed 2019
