Project Background
The University of Waterloo aims to reduce its operational emissions by 35% below 2015 levels by 2030 and it plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Natural gas used primarily for space conditioning is the single largest source of campus emissions, accounting for 92% of total emissions (scope 1 and 2). The Shift Neutral Climate Action Plan aims to address some of these emissions by considering ground source heat pumps for buildings not served by the district heating systems:
Initiative 39: Air and ground source heat pumps will, where feasible, be considered for all new construction and for major retrofits to existing buildings or central systems.
Buildings that might be suitable candidates for GSHPs are ARC, EC1-5, REV, UWP, DMS, PHR, IHB, CLV, MHR.
The University of Waterloo is therefore looking for a technical and economic feasibility study of the potential for ground source heat pumps in existing buildings that are not part of the district heating system.
This project also relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13, for affordable and clean energy and climate action.
Project Examples
- Researching the geological suitability of different ground source heat pumps (closed loop and open loop) for campus buildings not served by the district heating system, including satellite campuses.
- Researching the building characteristics that make for good candidates for ground source heat pumps. These might include thermal efficiency measures such energy use intensity values, thermal energy demand intensity values, design characteristics, and others.
- Conducting a cost analysis of different ground source heat pumps, including estimated upfront costs of placing the infrastructure, upfront costs of equipment, projected maintenance costs, and projected operational costs at current electricity prices.
- Calculating the greenhouse gas emissions impact of switching to a ground source heat pump in the buildings considered.
- Producing a list of major equipment, infrastructure instrumentation and control system requirements.
- Researching any best practices from other large institutions that have added ground source heat pumps to existing buildings.
- Detailing any incentives available for heat pump installation.
- Outlining any further considerations that should impact a decision to install ground source heat pumps.