Energy Manager: Tolko Industries Ltd.

News stories concerning forest products companies often feature the theme of falling lumber prices or the continuing pine-beetle epidemic. However, one B.C.-based forest company has been making headlines for a different reason. Tolko Industries Ltd., a privately-owned company headquartered in Vernon, B.C., recently received a Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award. The award highlighted Tolko’s ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and environmentally responsible forestry practices. A producer of lumber and specialty wood products at multiple facilities across Western Canada, Tolko formalized its commitment to energy efficiency in 2002 when the company became a BC Hydro Power Smart Partner.

Willis Energy Services Ltd. (Willis) has served as Energy Manager for Tolko since 2004. As Energy Manager, Willis works with Tolko to identify, develop, and monitor energy savings opportunities at the company’s B.C. operations. As a result of its partnership with BC Hydro and Willis, to date Tolko has implemented over 50 energy efficiency projects and has obtained an energy savings of 29.5 GWh/yr and $1,200,000/year in savings (based on 2007 average energy prices) at the nine major facilities that are in BC Hydro’s jurisdiction.

“We are always trying to find the best ways to use and produce energy,” says Michael Towers, Manager, Tolko Energy and Supply Systems.

Energy-savings projects that Tolko has implemented on Willis’s recommendation include replacing V-belts on fans with higher-efficiency synchronous belts; installing energy efficient lighting; optimizing compressed air systems; replacing hydraulic drives with higher efficiency variable frequency drives; and optimizing processes.

Willis is currently assisting Tolko with the development of a long-term Strategic Energy Management plan, which will include a forecast of Tolko’s gas and electricity needs over the next five to ten years. Willis is also assisting Tolko with incentive applications, monitoring baseline loads, preparing business cases for energy efficient projects, and preparing energy use reports for each Tolko B.C. division.