Edmonton-based sustainability consultants EcoAmmo think companies can boost their productivity and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time.
EcoAmmo’s Andrea Pelland describes the company’s mission simply: “To make sustainable building easy.” EcoAmmo’s projects include the University of Alberta’s Edmonton Clinic North and the newly reconstructed Procura building on the corner of Jasper Avenue and 108 Street, both in Edmonton. When Pelland consults with a company she meets with her client as well as the engineers, architects and contractors who will ultimately work on the building. She leads the meetings and makes recommendations on ways her clients can build green credits into their projects.
Almita Piling Inc. is another favourite EcoAmmo client; the two companies have been working together since 2006. When Almita wanted to build their new 3,700 square metre (40,000 square foot) screw pile manufacturing facility close to Ponoka, Almita approached EcoAmmo because the company wanted to maximize its energy efficiency and minimize its waste. In the words of company president Larry Kaumeyer, “Green and productivity go completely together.”
To boost their productivity, Almita is integrating EcoAmmo’s suggestions at the company’s new facility. Every detail, down to the office furniture and carpets, has been chosen with the intention to reduce Almita’s carbon footprint. Almita is installing wind turbines, photovoltaic panels and a waste water recycling system in the manufacturing plant. “It all results in a higher productivity of energy usage,” Kaumeyer says.
Kaumeyer adds that the steps Almita is taking to reduce its CO2 emissions will provide a net benefit to the company’s balance sheet, because the energy savings “translate directly to the bottom line.” The alternative energy sources and Almita’s decision to reuse its waste water mean direct cost savings in Almita’s manufacturing operations.
Almita manufactures and installs screw piles – a foundation system with a wide helix which is literally screwed into the earth, rather than hammered in like a nail. Almita’s clients include major oil sands producers but Almita also installs screw piles for Calgary’s Enmax Corp.’s wind turbines.
Two such wind turbines are going up at Almita’s new manufacturing plant. The 33 and 44 foot turbines are expected to save Almita 19.2 tons of CO2 per year, says Enmax energy efficiency engineer David Barry. Enmax is also installing 45 photovoltaic panels on the roof of Almita’s new administration office. Both sources of energy will feed power back into the grid and reduce Almita’s energy bill while limiting Almita’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Barry says the money Almita has spent building alternative energy systems into their new facility sends a clear message to the marketplace. “They wanted to make a statement that they were concerned about the environment.” To that aim, Almita has incorporated as many EcoAmmo recommendations as possible.
Almita, Pelland says, was dedicated to minimizing their ecological footprint. “They already had a very long list of [environmentally conscious] things they wanted to do,” Pelland says.
“They approached us to go to the next step.” ‘She says EcoAmmo is encouraged by companies like Almita who see that incorporating environmentally friendly practices and technologies means not only a smaller carbon footprint but a fatter wallet at the end of the day.
