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Combined Heat and Power (CHP) For Condominiums

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) For Condominiums

Submitted By: tgregory on Jun 16, 2016

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) For Condominiums

We’ve been working with contractors that offer Combined Heat & Power (or CHP) for about two years now– gaining experience on the various CHP offers, technologies, and approaches being offered. 

All of this expertise is an asset to our clients.

As such, this document is meant to be a companion to a direct mail piece recently sent by Toronto Hydro. Here, we will interpret some of the claims made, and provide a slightly different recommendation

on the next steps to take.

Text Box: IF A CHP MAKES ELECTRICITY, WHY IS “HEAT” SO IMPORTANT? A CHP system produces electricity, and heat as a by-product. CHP feasibility rests on using the heat in the building. Typically, the heat from a CHP is used to heat Domestic Hot Water (DHW). A higher DHW load will mean the building can support a larger CHP unit to make more electricity.

 

 


 

 

 

We Have Answers to These Questions and More:

ARE THERE OTHER SITES ACTUALLY DOING THIS?

Yes – a Brookfield managed condominium is on track to generate power via a CHP Fall of 2016.

 

WHY HAVE WE NOT HEARD OF THESE UNTIL RECENTLY?

A relatively new program makes a CHP eligible for incentives up to 40% of the capital costs.  This makes these projects feasible now.
 

CAN A CHP REALLY PROVIDE SAVINGS AND EMERGENCY BACKUP?
 

  • It is tough to achieve both.  CHP projects are complex, so they do have a long payback.
  • The cost of the project, and thus the payback will be driven by the value a board places on residents being able to remain in their buildings during prolonged outages.

 

Recommended Next Steps:

 

Oval: 1Have Toronto Hydro perform a preliminary assessment

  • Accept Toronto Hydro’s offer to determine if CHP is feasible for your building – at no cost
  • They will ask each building to sign a release so they can analyze your gas usage – this will tell them about the heat demand in your building
  • Our Manager of Energy and Sustainability can help the manager and corporation interpret the study

 

Oval: 2Meet with CHP companies

  • Before any money is invested, we can facilitate meetings with different CHP providers so you can learn about their experience and their offers
  • There are different CHP technologies and approaches available – ask questions!
  • Our Manager of Energy and Sustainability will support your decision making with expert advice

 

Oval: 3Perform a detailed Engineering Study (DES)

  • DESs are funded up to a max of 80% of the study cost
  • We encourage condominiums to have conditionally selected a CHP provider before a DES is started because the DES is technology specific to a large extent.  Multiple DESs make the projects unfeasible
  • Make the final decision based on the DES results

 

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Energy Facts

  • Crossbridge has the property management industry’s only Ontario Power Authority sanctioned Embedded Energy Manager
  • Crossbridge’s clients have realized approximately $1 million of new savings each year
  • Since mid-2010 we have facilitated annual utility savings to our clients totaling nearly $8.0 million
  • We have also urged government departments and agencies to address inequities in utility billing, evaluated new products and services, developed new municipal codes and established industry best protocols for our clients (e.g. Electrical vehicle charging in condominiums)