Tsawwassen Springs — building with vision

Tsawwassen Springs is a $400 million masterplan community development in the Lower Mainland that features geoexchange heating and cooling, individual natural gas meters and natural gas appliances. The developer is targeting LEED® Silver certification for the 296 condominiums and is building the 193 homes to energy efficient standards.

The developer, Shato Holdings, had the vision to create an entire community centered around a peaceful and convenient lifestyle that homebuyers could feel good about. Recognizing the high standards of today’s consumers, they knew it also meant developing an energy solution that demonstrated respect for the environment.

To achieve this, the Shato team sought out a proven, high-efficiency energy system and an energy provider that homeowners knew they could trust.

“Having FortisBC involved with our development gives our purchasers comfort knowing who’s behind it,” confirms Ron Toigo, managing director at Shato Holdings. “We’ve been working with FortisBC for a number of years, so we knew who we were dealing with before they even walked in the door, and had complete comfort knowing what we were going to get.”

Green in the home, green in the pocketFortisBC recommended a geoexchange energy system. The system includes a vertical loop field to provide both heating and cooling via heat pumps in each condo and house. Because FortisBC owns and operates the loop field, maintenance costs are minimized.

FortisBC worked with mechanical engineering company, Jade West Engineering Co., to develop this geoexchange system that provides space heating and cooling, along with domestic hot water preheating. Heat recovery ventilation allows for continuous fresh air and better indoor air quality.

“Having FortisBC involved with our development gives our purchasers comfort knowing who’s behind it.”

Thermal energy services are regulated public-utility services. Our sister company FortisBC Alternative Energy will provide/is providing innovative thermal energy solutions to such projects as Tsawwassen Springs. FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc.

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According to John Makepeace, president at Jade West, the geoexchange system is highly efficient because it delivers at least two units of heat energy for every unit of energy used to operate the system, such as electricity to run the heat pumps.

The condominiums also have individual natural gas meters for in-suite fireplaces and cooktops, and outlets for barbecues, patio heaters and outdoor fireplaces. This gives control to homebuyers so they only pay for the energy they use. And since FortisBC installs, owns and operates the individual natural gas meters, Shato’s capital costs are reduced.

Peace of mindFortisBC committed to own and maintain the geoexchange wsystem over the long term. This allowed Shato to market Tsawwassen Springs as a reputable project backed by an experienced and reliable team with a proven track record.

“It feels good knowing we’ve taken care of the energy needs of the customers in this development, allowing them to feel confident about making the choice to live here,” shared John Turner, director of energy solutions

at FortisBC. “Geoxchange was a very important part of the energy solution for Tsawwassen Springs. It met the needs and objectives of the developer for sustainability and LEED certification, and we did it at a reasonable cost for the end-use customers.”

Knowing FortisBC would own and maintain the geoexchange system ultimately gave the developer and engineers peace of mind, letting them focus on other key aspects of the development. FortisBC also extends this peace of mind to homebuyers.

The FortisBC advantageYou can incorporate a thermal energy solution into your next project with FortisBC, a leading energy provider.

We will work with you every step of the way. You benefit from industry leaders and energy experts with practical, real-world experience. We help you shape your energy strategy, with knowledge that could help you meet the new provincial greenhouse gas emissions targets. We also help you take advantage of available financial incentives.

Go high efficiency and saveDiscover how to add the comfort, convenience and efficiency of natural gas to your next project. We can help your customers reduce their energy costs, and you may also qualify for financial incentives through FortisBC.

Learn more at fortisbc.com/rebates.Or contact a FortisBC energy solutions manager near you at fortisbc.com/energyteam.

Natural gas is a key part of the energy mix for our development.Ron Toigo

Managing Director, Shato Holdings