Saskatoon Friendship Inn Energy Conservation Project

The Saskatchewan Environmental Society undertook an energy conservation project at the Saskatoon Friendship Inn that significantly reduced the energy expenditures of the Friendship Inn and in turn reduced harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The long-term savings generated by this project allow the Friendship Inn to more effectively use its budget in support of its core mission: social and self-help programs.

Project History
In 1996, the Friendship Inn approached the Saskatchewan Environmental Society to investigate the potential for energy conservation at its 20th Street building. For the previous  two years the Friendship Inn has paid between $14,000 to $19,000 annually for its utilities (electricity, natural gas and water). This represents the Friendship Inn's largest budget cost after salaries and benefits. Any savings in these costs could be focused on social services and self-help programming - a much more appropriate use of scarce Friendship Inn resources.

With funding secured by the Friendship Inn from the Shell Environment Fund, an energy audit was conducted by Kelln Consulting of Lumsden, Saskatchewan. This audit focused on retrofits with a payback of less than five years and found good potential for savings.

Estimated savings of 12-20% were possible. In other words, the impact of this project will continue to positively benefit the Friendship Inn for years to come.

Thanks to funding from College of Law Follies Association and the support of other partners, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society undertook an energy retrofit of the Saskatoon Friendship Inn on the weekend of July 17 and 18, 1999. It was estimated that with simple, low-cost changes to lighting, plumbing and weather stripping, there were potential savings of about $1500 per year. This would also result in a reduction of 18 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year—a positive example of how small organizations can ease the climate change crisis in Saskatchewan.

Project Detail

Retrofits at the Friendship Inn concentrated largely on the conversion of the lighting, since this is deemed to be the area of greatest potential savings. Most of the current lighting was retrofitted with T8 fluorescent tubes, electronic ballasts and specular reflectors. This combination of technologies uses approximately 60-70% less electricity than conventional fluorescent fixtures and achieved the bulk of the savings. Compact fluorescent bulbs were also installed. Exit signs were retrofitted with self-illuminating overlays. Other low-cost measures included the installation of water conservation devices, weather-stripping and caulking.

Project Potential
This project had great success for both the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the Friendship Inn. The SES saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate the potential for energy conservation as a cost-effective way of improving financial performance for non-profit and other organizations and a significant way to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, the project demonstrates that energy conservation is not just a "middle class" issue. On the contrary, given that for most households, energy expenditures represent the second highest cost category, energy conservation represents one concrete strategy to increase the disposable incomes of low income families. Climate Change is an issue that will affect all Canadians and through energy conservation projects such as this, everyone can be part of the solution!

The Friendship Inn saw the project as an opportunity to more effectively utilize its budget in support of those activities that are at the core of its mission: offering social and self-help programs such as the family support services, the children's creative play area, the summer art/recreation program for children, family camp, and the literacy program.

Savings
Savings for the first year following the retrofits, from August 1999 to August 2000, were about $1,100, or 8% of the utility budget.

These savings were lower than what had been anticipated, but it was felt that a number of extraordinary events during that year may have contributed to this. For example, the Friendship Inn undertook a project to repaint the entire facility which demanded longer operating hours than usual. As well, the electrical meter was replaced twice during the year due to malfunction. This may have contributed to incorrect meter readings and/or consumption estimates.

Although the savings for the first year were lower than anticipated, the Friendship Inn was still pleased with the project's positive impact on its budget.  As utility costs continue to rise, this positive effect will continue.

Project Partners

For more information contact:

Angie Bugg, Energy Conservation Project Coordinator
(306) 665-1915
angieb@environmentalsociety.ca

Friendship Inn
(306) 242-5122

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