Bruce County
Social Housing Tenants Save 50% on Energy Consumption
The Challenge
Located in Kincardine, Ontario, the Bruce County Housing Co-op is a government-owned social housing complex. It’s made up of sixteen similar townhouses each with two storeys plus a basement, most of which were still using the original, complex was built in the 1980s.
When the complex received a government grant to improve their infrastructure, they knew upgrading their heating would be a smart investment. Since the tenants pay their own hydro, an
have air conditioning, it would be a bonus to have a system with cooling capabilities.
However, because AC would be an additional expense to the heating and cooling. Other key factors to consider were a low initial capital cost, operating system cost, as well as a quick and simple retrofit.
The Solution
DEI & Associates Inc. specified Mitsubishi Electric’s Zuba Central heat pumps because the equipment met the job specification as per two mechanical consultants said no HVAC system compares to Mitsubishi Electric.
“The existence of ductwork, combined with the costly electric furnace systems, made the Mitsubishi Electric Zuba Central Heat Pumps an attractive option” explains Tom Melanson, Territory Manager, Mits AirConditioning Inc. who worked on the successful bid for the project.
The Zuba Central system is the perfect solution for our cold Canadian climate. Performing best at low temperatures, it provides 80% of its rated heat at -25⁰C, meaning it operates superior to other central heat pumps. Thanks to this much heat being generated efficiently at low temperatures, the inefficient backup electric heaters will rarely be used, if at all. The Zuba Central also provides efficient cooling.
The Results
Retrofit times were very quick, with each heat pump taking only one day to install. This helped keep initial capital costs in check and minimized disruption and inconvenience for the tenants. Since the installation was approximately 18 months ago and a larger time period is needed to gauge the long-term results, limited data is available. However, since units are individually metered it is possible to get an indication. Initial readings indicate a total energy consumption savings of about 50%. Ban confirms this by saying “Tenants love it — their hydro bills were decreased by more than 50%”.
Summary
Distributor:
Mits Airconditioning Inc. Missisauga, Ontario
HVAC Contractor:
Montgomery Industrial Services Wingham, Ontario
Property Management:
Bruce County Housing Corp.
Location:
Kincardine, Ontario
Industry:
Residential
Size:
Approx.1200 square feet/unit
Challenges:
The government-owned social housing complex needed an energy-efficient modern upgrade to their existing heating solution – electric furnaces.
Selection Criteria:
• Energy efficient
• Cost-effective up-front and in the long run
• Quick and simple retrofit
• Could fit into existing ductwork
• Air conditioning included
Design/Engineering Solution:
Mitsubishi Electric Outdoor unit models:
• 16 x PUZ-HA36NHA (Zuba Central)
Mitsubishi Electric Indoor unit models:
• 16 x PVA-A36AA
• 16 x EH10-MPA-L 10kW (Electric Heater)
• All Touchscreen Wi-Fi Thermostats
Results:
• 50% reduction on heating bills, on average
• Energy efficient models provided lower heating costs with a bonus of air conditioning
• Seamless integration of models into homes
