The Place des Arts is the largest performing arts complex in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Located in the heart of Montreal's Quartier des spectacles, it welcomes nearly one million spectators and over three million festival-goers every year. As a specialist in integrated facilities management (Integrated Facility Management), Equans Services is active in this mecca of artistic and cultural life. Initially responsible for operations and maintenance, our teams have also undertaken a vast recommissioning and GHG (greenhouse gas) reduction project.
Results?
35% reduction in energy consumption over the last 3 years and 50% reduction in greenhouse gases.
Hard and Soft Services
HVAC equipment, fire protection, regulation, event set-up and dismantling... When it comes to Place des Arts, the forty or so Equans Services employees on site know what they're talking about!
It's true that in a space of 1,300,000 ft² that brings together several buildings and an outdoor esplanade, there's no shortage of projects. Our teams are in charge of the management of technical installations, as well as event support services.
A job that requires constant availability, because at Equans Service, there's no question of leaving room for improvisation!
Energy Efficiency
"As part of this contract, we manage preventive and corrective maintenance for all the equipment on the famous quadrilateral," explains Vincent Côté, Site Manager at Equans Services.
"But that's not all! We also take care of everything related to the building, i.e. landscape maintenance, snow removal, specialized stage systems, etc. Added to this mission is a set of energy efficiency measures that both optimize the operation of the facilities and achieve handsome reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2)...".
What Measures Are Involved?
Energy efficiency actions carried out by Equans Services include:
- Conversion of lighting to LED system;
- Improved split of energy consumption between electricity and natural gas;
- Installation of CO2 probes in the parking lot ventilation system as part of the optimization of air renewal rates;
- Restoration of ice bank equipment to better manage peaks and optimize Hydro-Québec pricing.
" At Place des Arts, we carried out a major recommissioning ", completes Vincent Côté. "Subsidizable up to 75%, it has enabled us to completely overhaul the way we operate the buildings."
Rigorous Management
It has to be said that in a venue that includes 5 performance halls and is used every day, improving energy performance in a sustainable and efficient way was a necessity. We have in fact, limited the number of manual actions as much as possible by implementing automated sequences according to different types of events.
With Equans Services at the heart of the facilities, measuring, controlling and saving money have become the norm. To take the time to understand the buildings, improve operating sequences and carry out tests, the pandemic was in fact a tremendous opportunity.
Decarbonization
Reducing consumption, cutting operating costs, improving occupant comfort... By optimizing the installations, Equans Services also helped its customer to make its contribution to the decarbonization objectives set by the government. Restarting and optimizing the operation of the electric boiler was a turning point in the decarbonization efforts.", recounts Vincent Côté. "As an integrated facility management service provider, we have a duty to set an example. Rigorous equipment management is therefore essential, and we have demonstrated that well-orchestrated management can achieve significant reductions in consumption."
What's Next?
At the end of 2023, savings amounted to 35% in energy consumption in 3 years and a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases. While these results reflect the dynamism of an institution that has just celebrated its sixtieth anniversary, Equans Service has no intention of stopping there when it comes to sustainable development.
Support in implementing the ISO 500001 standard and integrating CopperTree Analytics (75% subsidized) technology provides concrete support for its efforts.
Analyzing building-related data in real time, this tool uses artificial intelligence to produce localized consumption statistics. Currently being installed on site, it will also be of great use in identifying the least efficient systems and suggesting the scheduling of energy optimization and asset replacement projects.
Let the show go on!
