eKOCOMFORT: News and Resources: Article, HVAC-R, April 2000

Manufacturers, industry associations, utilities and government organizations form the industry consortium, which is being led by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI). Technical support and expertise is being provided by Natural Resources Canada and the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program. The project will increase the availability and affordability of high-performance mechanical ventilation in Canada and significantly reduce residential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The project will span three years, with a projected cost of approximately $14 million. Expected investments in the project are as follows:

Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF)/Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM) – $2.9 million
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)/CANMET Energy Technology Centre (CETC) – $475,000
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) – $240,000
Manufacturers and other stakeholders – $10 million (estimate)

The Project: The project's objectives are to develop natural gas-fuelled AIMS for the residential market that will meet specific performance requirements and that will enhance the commercial attractiveness of these systems. The project should lead to a thriving market for AIMS by overcoming such barriers as the lack of field trial data, performance ratings, safety certification procedures and comparisons to existing products.

This initiative will result in improved Canadian industrial production capacity in the high-performance residential mechanical equipment sector and the commercialization of products that reduce the initial cost as well as the operating cost. It will also lead to improvements in residential energy efficiency and reductions in GHG emissions.

The industry consortium will focus its efforts on developing an AIMS industry by building a critical mass of commercialized products, establishing baseline performance levels and creating consumer awareness and confidence. To achieve these goals, the consortium has designed six project phases: manufacturer selection, product development, performance evaluation, field trials, training materials and AIMS selection tools, and marketing.

Significance of the Project: AIMS products have the potential to reduce energy use, to be simpler and faster to install, to use less physical space in the home, and to improve home comfort. Market analysis predicts that the project has the potential to lead to 280,000 natural gas AIMS installations in Canada in the next 10 years and 2.2 million natural gas AIMS installations within 25 years. In 10 years, total sales revenue is forecasted to be in the $200-million range.

Space heating, hot water heating and ventilation are responsible for most of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with operating a Canadian home. This project focuses on reducing these emissions by improving tap water heating and electrical efficiency. Annual GHG reductions as a result of AIMS are expected to be 2.5 tonnes in each of the 150 field trial homes. This equates to an energy and GHG saving of 25 percent for space heating, water heating and ventilation.

AIMS technology could be transferred to other heating sectors, so there is a large market potential. By providing effective, efficient ventilation, these products could enable draft sealing measures to reduce heating loads in homes. The result of these two measures together could provide improved indoor air quality for Canadians while further reducing fuel consumption, fuel costs and GHG emissions. AIMS also could reduce the cost of upgrading to an R-2000 energy-efficient home.

Investment Partners

Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF): The $150million Fund was established by the Government of Canada in the 1998-99 federal budget and is built into the existing fiscal framework. The CCAF supports projects that have the potential to reduce GHG emissions, as well as increase understanding of climate change. By initiating early action to address climate change, the TEAM portion of the CCAF focusses on supporting investments in technology projects to reduce emissions, while sustaining economic and social development.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): NRCan's Energy Sector promotes sustainable development and responsible use of Canada's energy resources. Its CANMET Energy Technology Centre is providing both funding and technical support to the project.

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI): HRAI was established in 1968 as the national trade association of manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors in the Canadian heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry. It provides essential products and services for indoor environmental control, icemaking and preservation/cooling of perishable and nonperishable goods.

Industrial Research Assistance Program: IRAP is a service of Canada's National Research Council. For more than 50 years, IRAP has helped small and medium-sized Canadian firms create and adopt innovative technologies that yield new products, create high-quality jobs and make industry more competitive.

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