Students Make Recommendations to Reduce GHG Emissions at Pumphouse Museum

Published on: 2023/03/30 - in Science & Tech

St. Lawrence College students make recommendations to reduce GHG emissions at Kingston’s Pumphouse Museum

Kingston’s Pumphouse Museum may soon become more environmentally sustainable after students in the St. Lawrence College Energy Systems Engineering Technology (ESET) program presented their findings of an energy audit to City staff last week.

The audit’s results recommended improving building insulation, transitioning to air-source heat pumps, and installing solar panels on-site, which could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 80%. The recommendations will be considered as part of the City’s long-term planning to achieve net-zero energy goals.

Russell Horne, Supervisor of Energy and Asset Management, said, “We’re thrilled to see the results of another successful energy audit. This partnership provides students with real-world experience in the energy field while also helping us find new, innovative ways to meet our goal of carbon neutrality by 2040.”

The ESET program’s third-year curriculum includes commercial energy audits, in which students perform data analysis, energy modeling, client interviews, and design thinking to suggest solutions. The heritage characteristics of the Pumphouse Museum were also taken into consideration, adding another layer of complexity to the students’ recommendations.

Daniel Liao, Dean of Applied Science, Technology, and Trades at SLC, said, “SLC’s ESET program is renowned for equipping students with sought-after skills in building science, heating and ventilation systems, and renewable energy, allowing them to make contributions to the low carbon economy of the future.”

The Pumphouse Museum is one of five City facilities audited by SLC ESET students. Previous audits have led to the implementation of several recommendations, including CO2 monitoring at City Hall and the Grand Theater, as well as lighting retrofits at multiple locations.

The long-standing partnership between the City of Kingston’s Facilities Management & Construction Services team and the ESET program began in 2012 with student placements and expanded in 2018 to include energy audits at City facilities.


Photo: Google