When construction on the new facility is completed this summer, approximately 300-square-meter panels will generate electricity for the building and heat fresh air during colder seasons. The Canadian Solar Buildings Research Network designed the technology, which is housed at Concordia.
“The construction of the new JMSB building provided our researchers with an opportunity to integrate state-of-the-art innovative solar technology, developed right here at Concordia, into a building which will set new standards for construction,” said Judith Woodsworth, Concordia president and vice-chancellor.
Concordia called its use of the combination heat and power panels the “first step in the development of the next generation of buildings; buildings that produce energy for their own use and generate enough power to contribute to the electricity network. This changes buildings from being passive consumers of electricity to net energy producers.”
“Our Government is committed to increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy for Canadians,” said Lisa Raitt, minister of natural resources. “Investing in projects like this one at Concordia is helping us do just that.”
If the schedule stays on track, students will be attending classes in the building starting in September. When operation begins, a display in the lobby showing the real-time energy captured by the sun and used by the building will be open to the public.
Funding for the development of the technology came from Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY, with contributions made by the Agence de l’efficacité énergétique. Sustainable Energy Technologies supplied the electronic components converting the solar electricity for use by the building and Day4Energy supplied the photovoltaic panels.
