TRU celebrates $50M sustainability milestone with Low-Carbon District Energy System
Thompson Rivers University celebrated a major sustainability milestone Thursday related to its Low-Carbon District Energy System, the first initiative under a $50-million national retrofit partnership between Creative Energy and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Representatives from TRU, Creative Energy and the CIB gathered on TRU’s Campus Green in Kamloops for remarks from university leadership and project partners.
“This partnership brings our sustainability goals to life,” said TRU President Brett Fairbairn. “It’s a bold step forward that reduces campus heating emissions by 95 per cent and brings us closer to our 2030 net-zero target.”
The LCDES will retrofit 12 existing buildings and add heating capacity for one new building, replacing decentralized natural gas systems with centralized, high-efficiency electrified heat sources powered by air-source and water-source heat pumps. Construction is already underway across the Kamloops campus.
Fairbairn also thanked the federal government for their leadership.
“It takes vision for the federal government, through the CIB, to commit to this kind of action. Doing so will also allow similar projects in other communities across BC and other parts of Canada to see support,” he said.
“This initiative not only supports our values of sustainability and community-mindedness but also serves as a living lab for students,” Fairbairn added. “It’s infrastructure and education in one.”
Kieran McConnell, President and COO of Creative Energy, praised TRU, saying, “Creative Energy is proud to be a part of this landmark project at Thompson Rivers University, and to partner with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, as we seek to create community energy systems today, for a better world tomorrow.”
The investment from CIB is part of its Building Retrofits Initiative, which aims to reduce building emissions nationwide while easing capital costs for upgrades. The funds will lead to reduced utility costs for TRU once the LCDES becomes fully operational.
“The partnership with Creative Energy allows their tailored turnkey retrofit solutions designed to improve the efficiency of aging buildings to be implemented quickly, and address affordability concerns,” said Dima Zreik, director of investments at CIB.