FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
Partner None
Background
Description
Goals
Overview
According to a 2005 report done by Habart & Associates called Impact of Terasen
Gas* Pilot Fireplace Program (2004), a decorative gas fireplace consumes
approximately 14.9 GJ/yr of natural gas.
Based on information contained in the Terasen Gas* 2008 REUS, only 12% of
decorative fireplaces are used for heating purposes and 55% of these units are used
for ambiance. This would seem to indicate that a significant amount of energy could
be saved by encouraging consumer use of a fireplace timer to turn off their fireplace
after a specified period of time.
In a 2003 study completed by FEI at Strata Plan LMS 1685 located at 8420 Jellicoe
Street in Vancouver, it was found the installation of the fireplace timer significantly
reduced the gas consumed by the strata. The strata embarked on a retrofit project in
2002 as a means to reduce their gas consumption. In this study, it was determined
that by installing a fireplace timer in suites, gas savings of 6 GJ/yr were achieved. A
testimonial by Strata Plan LMS 1685 was later released in June 2003 validating
these results.
*At this time the Company operated under the name Terasen Gas.
The purpose of this pilot program is to study the effect on gas consumption of
installing electronic programmable timers on decorative gas fireplaces in MURBs. It
is believed the timers will reduce instances of customers leaving gas fireplaces
burning longer than is actually needed. The pilot is offered in FEI’s Lower Mainland
service territory. The timers are only installed in units where the fireplace is not the
primary heating source.
The main purpose of this pilot program is to determine what the actual energy
savings are from fireplace timers. Additionally, the pilot seeks to evaluate:
• Potential difficulties with offering a full program in the awkward legal context
of strata corporations;
• Whether or not the market has sufficient installation capacity to run a full
program; and
• To enroll 1,000 participants, each saving 3 GJ/yr for a total of 3,000 gross
annual savings for the program.
Implementation
Administration Program administration entirely in-house by the commercial EEC team.
Communications
Evaluation
Strategy
For the pilot, communications is achieved by a webpage on the Company’s website
in addition to being promoted in person to applicable customers.
FEI will review the gas consumption of the participating buildings prior to the
installation of fireplace timers. This data, obtained from the FEI billing system, will
establish the baseline gas consumption.
After the pilot is completed and reviewed, a larger program running over multiple
years will be considered and offered throughout the Companies’ service territories.
4.4.2.6.2 Fireplace Timers Pilot Program Results
The Fireplace Timer Pilot program has garnered some participation, though the requirements of
the pilot study make gaining participants among strata properties a challenge; however, the
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