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Lonsdale Energy Corporation

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Location

141 West 14th St
City of North Vancouver, BC
Canada

Content Type
  • Infrastructure
Budget
Site Area
Extent: 11 buildings connected to 3 mini-plants
Completion date
2004
Certifications & Awards
  • 2006: Municipal Energy Award, Canadian District Energy Association
  • 2004: Award for Innovation, Canadian Association of Municipal Administrator
  • 2004: BC Community Excellence Award
  • 2005: National Energy Efficiency Award
project team
  • System Engineer: Stantec (formerly Keen Engineering)
  • Contractor: Chapman Burner and Heating
  • Principal Partner: City of North Vancouver (administration and distribution system installation)
  • Principal Partner: Terasen Utility Services (system operation)
  • Start-up Funder: Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Summary

Key Sustainability Features

•    Emissions reductions: 64% reduction of nitrous oxide; 21% reduction of carbon dioxide
•    Land conservation: no need to build a large energy plant in the community; mini-plants are very compatible with dense urban environments
•    Flexibility: designed to use a variety of fuels, including emissions-free, alternative energies
•    Renewable energy source: currently 120 solar hot water panels installed on the library roof

The City of North Vancouver created the Lonsdale Energy Corporation (LEC) to provide a district energy service for the Lower Lonsdale and Shipyard precincts. These two areas comprise a large, dense redevelopment of residential, commercial and cultural/institutional buildings. The project is BC’s first major redevelopment project to be integrated with a community energy plan. The City is providing the domestic hot water heating needs for 300,000 square metres of buildings without having to construct a large central energy plant.

Lonsdale Energy Corporation’s district energy service allows building owners and occupiers to access a premium heating service without having to be in charge of maintaining the plant and prime heating equipment. The service also provides for long-term flexibility to change to renewable energy sources should fossil fuel prices rise. Most significantly, the LEC offers a profitable alternative to the common and wasteful practice of using high quality energy through electric baseboards for space heating in new buildings.


The energy system is a hydronic heating system with modular heating plants; upon full build out, four to five mini-plants will serve 25 to 30 buildings. The mini-plants, which are fully automated, high-efficiency, and located within high-rise car parks, heat water, which is then delivered to buildings through a street distribution system. Cold water is returned to a plant to be re-heated. The modular design minimizes initial capital outlay, reducing the capital costs of providing the service. The distribution piping costs approximately $1,000 per linear metre, providing a high-value heating system at relatively low cost.

As of 2009, three plants have been constructed to serve eleven buildings, including the library and City Hall. As well, 120 solar hot water panels have been installed on the new library roof, enabling the energy plant to move to zero emissions.