Sunrise Health Region announced June 1st that they will spend $6.05 million to complete energy efficient upgrades to 22 of their health care facilities. The project is the second phase of a $12 million investment to improve energy efficiency within Sunrise facilities.
"We look forward to the same success we had with phase one," said Sunrise CEO Joe Kirwan. "There will be significant energy savings."
Garry Tollefson of SaskPower explained that when the upgrades are complete, Sunrise with save a combined total of $1 million each year in utility costs. "That is the amount energy used by 400 homes, or about the size of Saltcoats."
Sunrise's reduction in emissions will add up to the equivalent of taking about 1,000 midsize vehicles off the roads.
"A lot of our buildings were built a long time ago," said Kirwan. Older buildings tend to leak heat through their windows and doors, not to mention energy technology has changed significantly.
Art Wytrykush was the Project Manager for phase one of the Sunrise energy project at the Yorkton hospital. He has already begun work on phase two at Saltcoats Lakeside Manor Care Home.
"The lighting has already been changed," he said. Incandescent bulbs were replaced and magnetic ballasts exchanged for electric ballasts. Even the glowing "Exit" signs were outfitted with LED lights.
Another measure to increase energy efficiency will be to install heat reflectors between the radiators and the wall. The heat reflector ensures heat stays within the building instead of being transferred to the outside wall.
Lakeside Manor will also receive an up-to-date automated control system that schedules fans and boilers so no energy is wasted on unused rooms. The boilers themselves will be adapted so heat is re-used within the building instead of being vented outside.
Facilities in Melville, Ituna, Esterhazy, Langenburg, Foam Lake, Theodore, Invermay, Canora, Kamsack, Preeceville, Norquay and Yorkton will also benefit from similar upgrades.
Both phases of the Sunrise energy efficiency projects are in partnership with SaskPower. The work is mostly done through the SaskPower Eneraction Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program.
