Incentive Application Assistance: Aljane Greenhouses Ltd.

Willis Energy Services Ltd. can help industry obtain government and utility funding for energy efficient projects. Although there are several programs available to help businesses increase their energy efficiency and reduce fuel costs, the application process can be daunting for non-engineers. As a professional energy engineering firm, we have the expertise to complete and submit funding applications on behalf of industry. Read on for more information on how we successfully assisted an industrial greenhouse to obtain federal funding for an energy efficient retrofit project.

Modern industrial greenhouse operations allow residents in northern climes to enjoy locally-grown produce, such as cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, outside the traditional growing season. However, for several months during the year the greenhouses have to be heated to keep the plants growing and thriving.

Most industrial greenhouses in North American are steel frame structures clad in glass to allow maximum light penentration. Typically described as venlo-style, the greenhouses also feature multi-gable roofs, well-suited for snow removal. However, because they are designed to admit light, venlo-style greenhouses are poorly insulated. In addition, the multi-gable roof design creates a large attic of unused space above the crop zone. During cooler weather when heat is used to maintain the required thermal environment in the crop zone, heat energy is lost through the glazed walls and roof. With rising energy costs, growers are increasingly looking for ways to save on their fuel bills through energy efficiency measures and retrofit projects.

Although a retrofit project can increase a greenhouse’s energy efficiency and reduce its energy use, the project cost can be prohibitive for small to medium operators. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), through its ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive Program, helps companies with fewer than 500 employees overcome financial barriers by providing an incentive of up to 25 percent of a project cost to a maximum of $50,000 per application and $250,000 per corporate entity. Companies must pre-qualify a project prior to incurring any related costs by submitting an application to NRCan that includes, in addition to all anticipated costs, the estimated annual energy savings as verified by a professional engineer or certified engineering technologist.

Albert and Jane Van Marrewyk, owners of Aljane Greenhouses Ltd. (Aljane) in Pitt Meadows, B.C., recently took advantage of the NRCan program to install a retrofit project in one of their greenhouses. Aljane grows hothouse peppers 49 weeks a year, followed by an annual three-week cleaning break. The crop zone temperature needs to be maintained at 22° C during the day and 19° C during the night when the greenhouses are in production. The Van Marrewyks use natural gas and wood pellets to heat the greenhouses to the desired temperature.

Many greenhouse growers have successfully used energy screens to reduce their energy consumption and lower their fuel bills. One type of energy screen is a horizontal curtain that is installed from truss to truss in a greenhouse above the crop zone to trap heat, which in turn increases energy efficiency and reduces heating requirements. The Van Marrewyks, having previously installed an energy screen in one of their greenhouses, considered installing an energy screen in a second greenhouse. After conducting market research they settled on an energy screen that combines heat retention with light diffusion and allows maximum transmission of light. Constructed of loosely woven, transparent PET strands, the screen can be opened and closed as necessary.

Once the Van Marrewyks had settled on a specific technology, they hired Willis Energy Services to verify the estimated annual energy savings and complete and submit the NRCan ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive Program application on their behalf. We analyzed the energy savings that would be realized with the installation of the energy screen by comparing the pre-retrofit heat loss with the post-retrofit heat loss. By comparing the two, we determined that the energy screen installation would reduce the existing heat requirement by 23%. For the analysis, we considered several factors, including the amount of natural gas and wood pellets consumed to heat the greenhouse in a 12-month period prior to the screen installation compared with the estimated amount of fuel that would be consumed post-retrofit. Finally, we calculated that the increased heating efficiency and the resulting decreased fuel consumption provided by the energy screen would translate into an energy cost savings of $68,000 annually.

Once we had completed the engineering analysis and verified the energy savings that would be realized from the installation of the energy screen, we submitted the ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive Program application to NRCan. The application was successful, and the Van Marrewyks received approval for the maximum incentive under the program. With the installation of the energy curtain, not only will the Van Marrewyks be spending less on heating, but, equally important, they will also be emitting less greenhouse gas emissions as a result of decreasing their fuel consumption.

Call Willis Energy Services for more information on how we can assist your company access government and utility funding for energy efficient projects.