Western Economic Diversification Canada : Government of Canada partners with SAIT and industry on energy efficiency project

January 24, 2018 - Calgary, Alberta - Western Economic Diversification Canada

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is receiving $385,500 from Western Economic Diversification Canada to purchase equipment and support resources required to demonstrate micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) technology in homes.

The funding was announced today by the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities and Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.

As the process of energy generation produces surplus heat that is usually wasted, the micro-CHP technology will help capture this excess heat for use in other applications, such as heating homes or hot water tanks. SAIT, with the help of this investment and its industry partners, ATCO Gas and Brookfield Residential, will evaluate existing micro-CHP technologies to demonstrate how it can be used in Alberta homes. The project will see the design, construction, demonstration and evaluation of an operational and affordable Net Zero home in Western Canada, incorporating new clean technology in the residential natural gas sector.

Micro-CHP technology allows home owners to generate power on site, relying less on the electrical grid, improving the efficiency of the home and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. This technology will be an important option for helping Albertans reduce their residential energy consumption and cost.

Canada's Innovation Agenda promotes clean growth, good jobs and higher living standards for the middle class. The investments announced today are an example of this vision in action.

Quotes

'SAIT, with its industry partners, is helping to bring clean technologies to market. These technologies will promote sustainable development and address the issues of climate change. Micro-CHP technology may help to make our communities more energy efficient and make net-zero energy a more realistic option for families in Calgary, and all of Western Canada.'
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities and Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre

'SAIT is one of Canada's top applied research colleges. SAIT's Green Building Technologies Lab and Demonstration Centre is another example of how our industry and technology focused applied research and education builds careers and helps fuel our economic prosperity. SAIT appreciates Western Economic Diversification's support in the way we build, educate and develop a skilled workforce.'
Dr. David Ross, President and CEO, SAIT

'Micro-CHP is a great example of how an innovative technology that uses affordable and clean burning natural gas can reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions.'
George Lidgett, Managing Director, Pipelines & Liquids, ATCO

'We're excited to build a quality demonstration home with an advanced energy efficient envelope where we can test this technology and let Alberta homebuyers get an up-close look of the energy efficiency opportunities that are available.'
Trent Edwards, COO, Alberta - Brookfield Residential

Contacts

Donna Kinley
Manager, Consultation, Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada - Alberta Region
780-902-2984
[e-mail]

Chris Gerritsen
Senior Stakeholder and Public Relations Specialist
SAIT
403-284-8473
[e-mail]

Danielle Brown
Manager, Marketing & Communications
ATCO
780-289-0751
[e-mail]

Kurt Kadatz
Senior Manager, Communications
Brookfield Residential
403-516-5391
[e-mail]

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