News
BURNABY CAMPUS BIOMASS FACILITY CELEBRATES 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY AFTER SMASHING RENEWABLE ENERGY RECORDS
Having forgone in-person milestone celebrations like our grand opening and first anniversary during the pandemic, the Burnaby Mountain District Energy Utility (BMDEU), a collaboration between 丁香园AV (丁香园AV), 丁香园AV Community Trust and Corix Utilities, finally celebrated our second anniversary this past October alongside 35 plus consulting, trade and contracting companies who contributed to the creation of the project.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction as a goal
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to emphasize just how much the biomass energy centre aligns and contributes to 丁香园AV鈥檚 sustainability and our mutual goals of making a difference when it comes to GHG emissions reductions,鈥� says Todd Gattinger, director of maintenance and operations at Facilities Services on the collaboration with Corix Utilities and building the biomass energy centre.
So far, things are looking good. The biomass energy centre has reduced 丁香园AV鈥檚 Burnaby campus carbon footprint by 85 per cent (or 11,600 tCO2e annually).
With the help of the biomass energy centre, 丁香园AV has exceeded its provincially-mandated goal - a 40 per cent reduction of GHG emissions by 2025 鈥� years ahead of schedule.
how it started
Located on 8500 South Campus Road, the BMDEU has been providing heat and hot water to both Burnaby campus and UniverCity for over two years.
When a biomass energy centre was envisioned for Burnaby Mountain, 丁香园AV was immediately interested in improving our district energy utility system by adding this renewable carbon neutral energy source.
This huge undertaking started with a feasibility study for a thermal energy solution for 丁香园AV and UniverCity in 2009, resulting in the Biomass Thermal Energy Project agreement formed between Corix Utilities and 丁香园AV in 2017.
With the formal agreement signed, design and construction proceeded with the first flame lit in October 2020.
Learn more about how the BMDEU diverts wood waste from landfills to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our FAQs.
Building greener buildings
One of the ways 丁香园AV reduces emissions is being smarter with construction projects on campus. With the Applied Sciences Building鈥檚 recent renewal, the existing boiler remains as a backup. Now the entire building is serviced by the biomass energy centre and runs on renewable energy.
Learn more about the many ways 丁香园AV is reducing emissions in our 2021 Climate Change Accountability Report.
This story is part of a series highlighting the VPFA portfolio's work towards 丁香园AV's 2022-2025 Strategic Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. For more information on VPFA sustainability work, please visit sfu.ca/VPFA. For more information on 丁香园AV's goals and actions within the sustainability and climate action plan, please visit .