Avalon Mechanical Consultants Ltd.
Avalon Mechanical Consultants has been in operation since 1984. The current principals of the firm are Bob Landell, A.Sc.T., and Mirek Demidow, M.Sc.,P.Eng.
The company conducts business in the following fields: energy management for buildings; energy Research; mechanical design for buildings; indoor air quality; environmental impact research; commissioning / system diagnostics.
1. ENERGY MANAGEMENT FOR BUILDINGS
Energy management surveys and feasibility studies have been completed for hundreds of projects ranging from simple evaluation of insulation levels, to alternative energy, heat
reclaim, and computer control of buildings.
Avalon has determined the feasibility of converting numerous provincial government, federal and private facilities from oil heat to natural gas. Computer modelling has been
performed for hundreds of buildings, and a formula for predicting the energy cost requirements for B.C. schools has been developed for the Ministry of Education.
BC Hydro Power Smart New Building Design Studies have been completed on The VEFRA Building (finalist for BC Hydro 1993 award), Lambrick Secondary School, Database Filetech
Building, Gateway Village, Nootka Court BCBC Lease Area, and Myra Systems.
BC Hydro Power Smart Building Improvement Studies have been completed on the Victoria Law Courts, The Butchart Gardens, Harbour Centre, Windsor Court, Tillicum Mall,
Mr.Grocer-Duncan, The Strathcona Gardens Recreation Centre, The Kerry Park Recreation Centre, Hartwig Court, and The Harbour House Hotel.
Other facilities which we have upgraded include Spectrum Community School (winner of the ASHRAE Technology Award for northwest North America in 1990), Victoria City Hall,
The Crystal Pool, Government House, and the Victoria Youth Detention Centre.
Full Energy Accounting services have been provided for the City of Victoria (3 years) and the School District of Greater Victoria (3 years).
Specifically, we have direct experience with the following technologies: Design of energy efficient building systems for numerous office buildings, schools, art galleries, museums, hotels, swimming pools, archives, greenhouses, commercial freezers, laboratories, restaurants, a ship repair unit, a movie theatre, warehouses and residences.
Computer (DDC) control of buildings including numerous office buildings, schools, 6 public pools, arena ice plants, commercial freezers, The Provincial Museum, greenhouses, laboratories, restaurants, numerous federal facilities, and an artifact storage facility.
Heat reclaim: a commercial laundry, public swimming pools, an artifact storage facility, a bowling alley, restaurants and residential buildings; adjustable speed drives, high efficiency motors, and synchronous belts in building HVAC systems.; numerous lighting retrofits for offices, malls, pools, restaurants, parking lots etc. ; complete conversion of steam to hot water space heating for the Pacific Forestry Centre, Royal Roads Recreation Centre, The Fairfield Health Centre, and the Naden Recreation Centre; conversion of numerous buildings from electric, propane and oil heat to natural gas; low emissivity ceilings, refrigerative reclaim dehumidifiers, and desiccant dehumidifiers; california Loop heat pump systems; greenhouse shade curtains at the Butchart Gardens; analysis and evaluation of various glazing types, and of architectural and mechanical insulation levels; design, installation and maintenance of District Heating systems and Combined Heat and Power systems; residential, industrial and commercial solar energy applications; cooling with lake water; biogas, photovoltaics, and Solarwall feasibility; computer energy simulations for hundreds of buildings; evaluation, testing, balancing and commissioning of numerous mechanical systems.
2. ENERGY RESEARCH: Avalon was one of six organizations (including Hydro Quebec and the University of Calgary) to produce reports (September '98) concerning technologies which could reduce
Canadian greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030. This Energy Technologies Futures project output is used by Natural Resources Canada as a catalyst for immediate work on
energy systems, development of policy, and long term R&D.
Avalon worked with a market research firm to provide BC Hydro with program evaluation of their New Building Design Program, and their Natural Choice Program in 1996.
Avalon provided the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, B.C. (MEMPR) with detailed critical evaluations of the National Research Council's National Energy Code
for Buildings (NECB), 1.0 and 2.0. We authored many revisions to the NECB which were adopted into the Code. In 1996, we provided the Canadian Government with a comprehensive
training plan (aimed at all Canadian trades, inspectors and design professionals) for implementation of the NECB. In 1997, we created Information Sheets (posters) concerning NECB
envelope, lighting and mechanical requirements. Avalon was the only Canadian consultant on the team which developed the performance simulation software for the NECB.
Solar energy feasibility studies have been conducted on the following Vancouver Island buildings: Government House, The Brannan Lake Correctional Centre, The Waddington
Building, The Richard Blanshard Building, and the Jack Davis Building. Monitoring of a solar assisted heat pump system has been performed on a large apartment building. We have
recently completed a study on solar systems in salmon hatcheries for Natural Resources Canada (CANMET).
The following are examples of technical documents produced by Avalon: Client: CMHC(Ottawa); Topic: West Coast Ventilation Strategies, published 1990; CMHC (Ottawa): Research Report on Air Leakage and Movement in BC High-rise Apartments, published 1991; CANMET (Ottawa): Site Evaluations and System; design for Solar Heating of Aquaculture Process Water , 1995; BCBC Energy Mgmt: Report on HVAC Fan Power Consumption in Government Buildings. 1993; BCBC Head Office: Corporate Air Filtration Guidelines and Specifications, 1989; Bassai Industries
Field-Verified Savings Associated with Low-Emissivity Ceilings, 1992; BCBC Energy Mgmt: Energy Saving Potential of Flue-Mounted Devices on Combustion Appliances, 1988; BCBC Environment:
Guidelines for Ozone Depleting Substances; Purchasing, and Maintenance. 1992; BCBC Energy Mgmt:
Guidelines for Window Selection in Commercial Buildings in BC., 1986; BCBC PMU #1: Detailed Window Replacement Evaluation for The Douglas Building; Energy, Maintenance, Aesthetics and Ventilation. 1994.
Current Standing Offers: Defence Construction Canada; Energy Innovators Initiative, Natural Resources Canada; The Victoria Airport Authority; NRCan CANMET Energy Technology Centre; New Building Institute.
3. INDOOR AIR QUALITY: Studies, including more than 50 Provincial Government buildings and 60 schools, have been performed, and recommended improvements have been implemented in most cases. More
than one million dollars worth of upgrades have been implemented in the BC Ministry of Health Building alone.
We have produced air filtration guidelines and generic specifications for The B.C. Buildings Corporation (B.C.B.C.), and have completed a two year research project concerning
residential ventilation for CMHC (Ottawa). Another research project on air leakage in BC high-rise apartments was completed for CMHC and published in the fall of 1991.
Avalon possesses computerized data acquisition equipment for CO2, CO, relative humidity, and temperature. Microbiological testing, radon, formaldehyde, ozone and hydrogen
sulphide testing have been performed on past projects. Questionnaires have been administered at numerous buildings.
Company Details
Company Information
Bob Landell
Title:
Manager
Telephone:
(250) 384-4128
Fax:
(250) 384-4134
Email:
Click Here
Products
Environmental Products And Services
Energy Studies, Design Of Upgrades, Project Management.
1. ENERGY MANAGEMENT FOR BUILDINGS:
Energy management surveys and feasibility studies have been completed for hundreds of projects ranging from simple evaluation of insulation levels, to alternative energy, heat reclaim, and computer control of buildings.
Avalon has determined the feasibility of converting numerous provincial government, federal and private facilities from oil heat to natural gas. Computer modelling has been performed for hundreds of buildings, and a formula for predicting the energy cost requirements for B.C. schools has been developed for the Ministry of Education.
BC Hydro Power Smart New Building Design Studies have been completed on The VEFRA Building (finalist for BC Hydro 1993 award), Lambrick Secondary School, Database Filetech Building, Gateway Village, Nootka Court BCBC Lease Area, and Myra Systems.
BC Hydro Power Smart Building Improvement Studies have been completed on the Victoria Law Courts, The Butchart Gardens, Harbour Centre, Windsor Court, Tillicum Mall, Mr.Grocer-Duncan, The Strathcona Gardens Recreation Centre, The Kerry Park Recreation Centre, Hartwig Court, and The Harbour House Hotel.
Other facilities which we have upgraded include Spectrum Community School (winner of the ASHRAE Technology Award for northwest North America in 1990), Victoria City Hall, The Crystal Pool, Government House, and the Victoria
Youth Detention Centre.
Full Energy Accounting services have been provided for the City of Victoria (3 years) and the School District of Greater Victoria (3 years).
Specifically, we have direct experience with the following technologies:
Design of energy efficient building systems for numerous office buildings, schools, art galleries, museums, hotels, swimming pools, archives, greenhouses, commercial freezers, laboratories, restaurants, a ship repair
unit, a movie theatre, warehouses and residences.
Computer (DDC) control of buildings including numerous office buildings, schools, 6 public pools, arena ice plants, commercial freezers, The Provincial Museum, greenhouses, laboratories, restaurants, numerous federal
facilities, and an artifact storage facility.
Heat reclaim: a commercial laundry, public swimming pools, an artifact storage facility, a bowling alley, restaurants and residential buildings.
Adjustable speed drives, high efficiency motors, and synchronous belts in building HVAC systems.
Numerous lighting retrofits for offices, malls, pools, restaurants, parking lots etc.
Complete conversion of steam to hot water space heating for the Pacific Forestry Centre, Royal Roads Recreation Centre, The Fairfield Health Centre, and the Naden Recreation Centre.
Conversion of numerous buildings from electric, propane and oil heat to natural gas.
Low emissivity ceilings, refrigerative reclaim dehumidifiers, and desiccant dehumidifiers.
Greenhouse shade curtains at the Butchart Gardens.
Analysis and evaluation of various glazing types, and of architectural and mechanical insulation levels.
Design, installation and maintenance of District Heating systems and Combined Heat and Power systems.
Residential, industrial and commercial solar energy applications.
Cooling with lake water.
Biogas, photovoltaics, and Solarwall feasibility.
Computer energy simulations for hundreds of buildings.
Evaluation, testing, balancing and commissioning of numerous mechanical systems.
2. ENERGY RESEARCH: Avalon was one of six organizations (including Hydro Quebec and the University of Calgary) to produce reports (September '98) concerning technologies which could reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions by the
year 2030. This Energy Technologies Futures project output is used by Natural Resources Canada as a catalyst for immediate work on energy systems, development of policy, and long term R&D.
Avalon worked with a market research firm to provide BC Hydro with program evaluation of their New Building Design Program, and their Natural Choice Program in 1996.
Avalon provided the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, B.C. (MEMPR) with detailed critical evaluations of the National Research Council's National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB), 1.0 and 2.0. We
authored many revisions to the NECB which were adopted into the Code. In 1996, we provided the Canadian Government with a comprehensive training plan (aimed at all Canadian trades, inspectors and design professionals) for
implementation of the NECB. In 1997, we created Information Sheets (posters) concerning NECB envelope, lighting and mechanical requirements. Avalon was the only Canadian consultant on the team which developed the
performance simulation software for the NECB.
Solar energy feasibility studies have been conducted on the following Vancouver Island buildings: Government House, The Brannan Lake Correctional Centre, The Waddington Building, The Richard Blanshard Building, and the
Jack Davis Building. Monitoring of a solar assisted heat pump system has been performed on a large apartment building. We have recently completed a study on solar systems in salmon hatcheries for Natural Resources Canada
(CANMET).
Inspections, Monitoring, Occupant Questionnaires, Design Of Upgrades, Project Management.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Studies, including more than 50 Provincial Government buildings and 60 schools, have been performed, and recommended improvements have been implemented in most cases. More than one million dollars worth of upgrades
have been implemented in the BC Ministry of Health Building alone.
We have produced air filtration guidelines and generic specifications for The B.C. Buildings Corporation (B.C.B.C.), and have completed a two year research project concerning residential ventilation for CMHC (Ottawa).
Another research project on air leakage in BC high-rise apartments was completed for CMHC and published in the fall of 1991.
Avalon possesses computerized data acquisition equipment for CO2, CO relative humidity, and temperature. Microbiological testing, radon, formaldehyde, ozone and hydrogen sulphide testing have been performed on past projects. Questionnaires have been administered at numerous buildings.
Services