An energy-saving system being donated to the London Food Bank is expected to help the organization save around $4,000 on heating and hydro each year.
Jane Roy, director of the London Food Bank, says heat and hydro for the facility currently costs about $2,500 each month.
The Siemens EcoView Energy Management System was donated by EH Controls, to help cut energy consumption at the 22,000 sq. ft. warehouse.
Peter Croppo of EH Controls says “I think it makes a lot more sense for the food bank to put their resources into food versus utilities.”
EH enlisted the help of two other local companies, PTN Electrical Solutions and Total Home Comfort Solutions, to help with the installation.
All the work is being done on a volunteer basis, but there were some challenges working with an older building.
Paul Doody of PTN Electrical Solutions says “What we had to do was verify the existing circuits, and found out where the load demands were and then figure out how it was wired and find out how we could control them circuits.”
The system will allow the London Food Bank to remotely monitor and control heating, air conditioning, lighting and other electrical appliances.
And with a large freezer and cooler on site to store staples like eggs, milk and fresh fruit, email notifications of any malfunctions could help prevent large food losses.
Steve Hooper of Total Home Comfort Solutions says “That’s why constant monitoring is very important to make sure that you see the spikes of temperatures and falls of temperatures as well when the building is vacant.”
Roy believes the system will have benefits for years to come, “Energy costs are going to continue to go up and continue to increase. So any kind of efficiencies we can have that can keep our costs the same or decrease them is actually going to be great.”
Installation of the system is expected to be completed this month.
