Pacific Centre Complex
Multi-building Portfolio Energy Study & Decarbonization Plan
Project Overview
FirstLight Energy Solutions partnered with Cadillac Fairview to generate a comprehensive, long-term strategy to decarbonize and optimize the energy systems of eight office buildings and the retail mall in Vancouver’s Pacific Centre Complex. The plan focuses on reducing GHG emissions, improving energy efficiency, and supporting Cadillac Fairview’s commitment to sustainability through Zero Carbon Building Certification.
The Challenge
The Pacific Centre Complex spans three city blocks comprising eight office towers and a retail mall.
The facility historically consumed approximately 70,000 MWh of steam and electricity energy annually, generating approximately 7,500 tonnes of CO₂e in GHG emissions.
The challenge was balancing financial, performance, and environmental factors to ensure effective retrofit strategies that would support Cadillac Fairview in achieving Zero Carbon Building Certification.
The Solution
Comprehensive Energy Audits
FirstLight Energy conducted detailed investigations of the HVAC and plumbing systems in each building to align retrofit strategies with Cadillac Fairview’s long-term decarbonization goals and capital planning.
Advanced Energy Modeling
Using advanced energy models, the project simulated the impact of various system upgrades over 25 years, providing precise insights into potential energy savings and GHG reductions.
Low-Carbon HVAC Systems
The studies identified low-carbon HVAC system retrofits that included a combination of air-source heat pumps and high-efficiency heat recovery chillers to reduce heating and cooling loads.
Thermal Energy Storage
Recommendations included the integration of thermal energy storage to maximize heat recovery chiller operation by improving the asymmetric availability of heat vs heating loads and optimize energy use during peak demand, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Zero Carbon Building Certification Support
FirstLight Energy provided key support in Cadillac Fairview's pursuit of Zero Carbon Building Certification for six towers, demonstrating alignment with global climate goals.