The University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières (UQTR) is a 14,500-student public institution with several buildings across a 1.2 million square foot campus. The university wanted to reduce energy consumption but faced several operational challenges, especially the complex maintenance and operation of its extensive high-temperature hot water system.
After a comprehensive analysis of the university’s systems, Ecosystem converted the heating network to a lower temperature, optimizing heat recovery and transfer among campus buildings, adding cooling in several locations, and removing outdated equipment. Because of the large campus, recovering and transferring heat between buildings was both a challenge and the key to unlocking significant energy savings. The deep retrofit eliminated inefficiencies and addressed the operating issues caused by decentralized equipment.
UQTR is now one of the most energy-efficient campuses in Quebec. The project has generated continuous energy savings – 108% of its performance target – and has reduced GHG emissions per year by 829 metric tons, equivalent to keeping 368 cars off the road. The university’s new lower-temperature hot water network is not only safer but also simpler to operate and maintain.
Conversion of high temperature hot water system (150°C) to lower temperature system (75°C)
Extension and optimization of cooling system
Lighting upgrade
Addition of adiabatic humidification systems
Installation of efficient hoods
Installation of a high-efficiency heat recovery chiller
Ventilation optimization
Installation of submetering system
Optimization of DHW production
Addition and optimization of centralized controls
