< PreviousThe company has also flexed its philanthropic muscle with regular donations to organizations like The War Amps and local food banks. In 2020, Grasshopper contributed over $50,000 to the Mississauga Food Bank and donated more than 10,000 surgical masks and additional COVID-19 protective equipment to local Ontario hospitals. Now, in the coming weeks, Grasshopper Energy will be dispers- ing an aggregate total of $368,000 in annual rent payments to 1,070 residential partners in Ontario who, under the MicroFIT program, partnered with the company in 2015 to outfit their homes with solar panels. Since 2015, the solar panels installed through these residential partnerships have generated 114,139,161 kWh of clean, carbon-free electricity. This is the equivalent of offsetting the CO₂ emissions generated from the electricity use of 13,663 homes in a year. Ulianovschi considers the company’s biggest challenge to be that people from all walks of life do not understand the gravity of the climate change crisis, and unremitting debate on the matter leads to unproductive divisiveness. “Most of the other challenges we face as a company or as a sector tend to precipitate from that root cause,” he explains. A hostile stance in any given region to fighting climate change tends to choke potential capital for sustainable energy measures and drive it to more climate-friendly markets. This leads to price increases for clean solutions and low adoption rates in those markets, slowing or preventing volume pricing from ever being achieved. “All of us, including the clean energy sector, our partners in government, the media, and elsewhere must do more to educate people about climate change,” Ulianovschi emphasizes. He knows that the message must be conveyed to reach even the harshest sceptics. This means that the shift to clean energy must not be put forth as an extreme, overnight proposition. Clean energy proponents must highlight how powerful clean energy can be in creating jobs and driving economic growth, to naturally sway lead manufacturers and providers away from fossil fuel dependence. As 2021 begins, Grasshopper will deploy more clean energy assets around the world. Ulianovschi sees South America as a market for serious consideration where the company intends to “put shovels in the ground,” as he puts it. Grasshopper plans to continue raising capital for further development while increas- ing education about climate change. Additionally, the company will continue to advocate for clean energy on the global stage, working with international bodies like the UN to further educate about the climate crisis and “to accelerate the development of a sustainable world” – the company’s vision statement. FEBRUARY 2022 20“In 2021, we are focused on business development, community engagement…exploring different clean energy technolo- gies, like batteries, storage, and [electric vehicle] charging,” Ulianovschi says of carbon reduction technologies. The company has received multiple national industry awards for its ongoing efforts, including being recognized as the solar innovator of the year, project finance innovator of the year, and solar developer of the year by the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CSIA). But the Grasshopper Energy team is trying to achieve much more than acknowledgment; they understand that climate change is the defining issue of our time. Grasshopper’s goals for the industry are as vast as its global reach, and its entire team remains motivated to provide a more sustainable world and a greener future for all. “Climate change impacts our communities, planet, children, and future generations. We are doing this for the well-being of our local and global community,” states Ulianovschi. Content Developed by Brad Mike | Designed by Bridgette Morrissey 21 RESOURCE IN FOCUS FEBRUARY 2022 22Written by Jessica Ferlaino Geoexchange is how geothermal energy, generated and stored below the Earth’s surface, provides effi- cient and cost-effective heating, cooling, and hot water to a home or structure. Because the temperature below the surface of the earth remains constant, exchanging heat is more efficient, making geoexchange more sustainable than conventional HVAC, at a fraction of the financial and environ- mental cost. Known as geothermal heat pumps or ground source heat pumps, these systems use the stable temperature of the ground to store heat energy so it can be pulled back out and distributed into a building using minimal electricity. 23 RESOURCE IN FOCUS Versaprofiles is proud to partner with , an innovative Canadian company involved in efficient and progressive geothermal heat exchange systems. Congratulations for your success! GEOTHERMAL LOOPS CERTIFIED | DURABLE | EASY TO USE | CUSTOMIZED | EFFICIENT About Versaprofiles With over 50 years of experience in thermoplastic extrusion, Versaprofiles offers innovation to make your job easier and lighten your workload. We are producing pipe and tubing for maple sap, geothermal, water and natural gas distribution applications in addition of specializing into custom made profiles. With our collective expertise in various sectors and our versatile equipment, we can bring your projects to higher level. 2 INCHES GEOTHERMAL LOOP NEW There are currently 30,000 earth energy installations in Canada. This is equal to replacing 50,000 conventional cars with electric, planting 19 million trees, or eliminating the need for a 130-megawatt power plant or one million barrels of imported crude annually. Just imagine the potential impact if this was the status quo. Geoexchange systems only require a small amount of electricity to operate the refrigerant compressor, ground loop pump and fan, which reduces demand for electricity by nearly one kilowatt per ton capacity and can result in 25 to 50 percent lower energy costs compared to conventional HVAC systems. By eliminating the need for fossil fuels, significantly fewer emissions are generated. If that’s not enough to sell you on geothermal, these systems also boast the lowest life-cycle cost of any heating and cooling system. The mechanical equipment lifecycle exceeds 25 years and overall maintenance, repair, and operational costs are gener- ally less than conventional HVAC systems, despite offering occu- pants a greater degree of comfort year-round at lower, more pre- dictable monthly rates. More impressively is the below-ground infrastructure itself, which could last beyond life of the building. While the advantages are clear, up front capital costs associated with installation can be disadvantageous, however the initial investment can be paid back in as few as five years. Especially with a partner like Geosource Energy on your side, this doesn’t have to be a major source of concern. Since 2004, Geosource Energy has been a champion of geo- thermal in Canada, offering utility grade construction services and best-in-class drilling. They provide various project delivery models for geothermal systems from construction through to Design-Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (DBOOM). Through the DBOOM model, a long-term service agreement is put in place which provides unmatched customer service and system management throughout a project’s lifecycle. Geosource acts as a technology and performance guarantor which is made possible through the creation of an energy part- nership. Clients experience a peace of mind and operational stability, as Geosource bears the capital costs across the life of the contract – usually a term of 30 years. “With a third-party utility bearing the capital cost of that system,” Adam Alaica, Director of Engineering and Development says, “it allows for the capital burden to be taken off of the developer, and through the service agreement it is converted to an oper- ating cost for the end-user.” “There are currently 30,000 earth energy installations in Canada. This is equal to planting 19 million trees.” Versaprofiles is proud to partner with , an innovative Canadian company involved in efficient and progressive geothermal heat exchange systems. Congratulations for your success! GEOTHERMAL LOOPS CERTIFIED | DURABLE | EASY TO USE | CUSTOMIZED | EFFICIENT About Versaprofiles With over 50 years of experience in thermoplastic extrusion, Versaprofiles offers innovation to make your job easier and lighten your workload. We are producing pipe and tubing for maple sap, geothermal, water and natural gas distribution applications in addition of specializing into custom made profiles. With our collective expertise in various sectors and our versatile equipment, we can bring your projects to higher level. 2 INCHES GEOTHERMAL LOOP NEW FEBRUARY 2022 24Versaprofiles is proud to partner with , an innovative Canadian company involved in efficient and progressive geothermal heat exchange systems. Congratulations for your success! GEOTHERMAL LOOPS CERTIFIED | DURABLE | EASY TO USE | CUSTOMIZED | EFFICIENT About Versaprofiles With over 50 years of experience in thermoplastic extrusion, Versaprofiles offers innovation to make your job easier and lighten your workload. We are producing pipe and tubing for maple sap, geothermal, water and natural gas distribution applications in addition of specializing into custom made profiles. With our collective expertise in various sectors and our versatile equipment, we can bring your projects to higher level. 2 INCHES GEOTHERMAL LOOP NEW Versaprofiles is proud to partner with , an innovative Canadian company involved in efficient and progressive geothermal heat exchange systems. Congratulations for your success! GEOTHERMAL LOOPS CERTIFIED | DURABLE | EASY TO USE | CUSTOMIZED | EFFICIENT About Versaprofiles With over 50 years of experience in thermoplastic extrusion, Versaprofiles offers innovation to make your job easier and lighten your workload. We are producing pipe and tubing for maple sap, geothermal, water and natural gas distribution applications in addition of specializing into custom made profiles. With our collective expertise in various sectors and our versatile equipment, we can bring your projects to higher level. 2 INCHES GEOTHERMAL LOOP NEWGeosource enables this capacity via a partnership with Oakville Enterprise Corporation (OEC), a municipally owned energy and infrastructure company that has an established presence in the geothermal market. Together they bring 30 years of experience and over 300 projects delivered, as well as extensive technological capacity and resources that can better serve client partnerships. Jennifer Burstein is Vice President of Construction at Collecdev, a developer that is working with Geosource and to date has completed the drilling of nine bore fields across its communities. “Geothermal was an easy decision for us,” she says. “At Collecdev we acknowledge an inherent responsibility over the impact of our communities on the natural and built environment. This is achieved through the careful consideration and implementa- tion of advanced building technologies and alternative energy sources. As one of Collecdev’s corporate pillars is Environmental Stewardship, the implementation of geothermal aligned well with our corporate vision.” Burstein adds, “It just felt natural to advance geothermal technol- ogy in all of our communities. It made sense to streamline the process – not only the vertical drilling, but also the connections, the mechanical systems, the engineering and project manage- ment that go along with it. While these systems add upfront costs during planning and construction, the long-term benefits come from a reduced reliance on external power. The increased benefits on the environment are becoming more evident to developers and condo buyers and have a big impact on buying decisions. Geothermal systems will vastly improve sustainability for the next generation of buildings and Collecdev is an early adopter of advanced environmentally focused initiatives.” FEBRUARY 2022 26Armstrong With eight manufacturing facilities on four continents, and employees around the world, Armstrong Fluid Technology is known as a leading innovator in the design, engineer- ing and manufacturing of intelligent fluid flow equipment, control solutions and digital technologies. In the shift toward digitalization and integration of fluid- flow systems, Armstrong leads the industry, bringing edge computing to mechanical systems, approaching energy optimization as a whole-building challenge, and advanc- ing the practice of full lifecycle management of mechani- cal systems. Focusing on HVAC, Plumbing, Gas Transmission and Fire safety applications, we provide energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions to building and facility professionals. Geosource Energy drills and installs one hundred percent of its own geo fields. It handles all of the technical and geological con- siderations to support the energy side of a project, freeing up the developer to oversee the real estate aspect, which makes for an ideal partnership in the development space, especially when partners are engaged early in the process. “Early engagement is critical to success on any project,” Alaica believes. “From a new construction perspective, it is the ideal scenario to design geo into a building from its conception. This is even more critical when the geothermal infrastruc- ture is sited below the building footprint, which is common practice in most facilities.” Early engagement doesn’t necessarily mean geothermal needs to happen first. Collecdev employed Geosource Energy on the Westwood Gardens project in 2018, which had multiple trades on site at the same time. The space allowed Geosource to drill the bore field in tandem with other onsite activities, the coordi- nation of which was seamless. Building retrofits are possible, but they are not without their chal- lenges. There may be challenges integrating the new system with legacy facilities and mechanical distribution systems. In these cases, detailed due diligence is required to assess the project viability and may result in the need for deep retrofits, which may come at a far greater cost up front. Alaica explains that where there is a lack of space in higher density communities, “Geosource has innovated our construc- tion and implementation methods, leveraging things like angle drilling. This is actually something we’ve done with Collecdev in the past, and it can be done for retrofits and new buildings where there is limited space available.” The Lillian Park project managed by Collecdev which he was referring to is described by Burstein as a “retrofit-esque infill project, a three-tower new build which was integrated into an existing residence that was about fifteen years old. They deployed this angular vertical-drilling mechanism which allowed us to take a very small portion of land and drill a large amount of loop space at an angle.” Another advantage of geothermal is flexibility from an architec- tural standpoint, which is particularly useful for historic renovation projects. Geothermal mechanical rooms are smaller and can be tucked away in lower value areas such as underground parking levels, with no need for unsightly equipment on the property grounds or the roof. Geosource’s strategic alliance with industry leading fluid flow experts, Armstrong Fluid Technology, ensures that all hydronic equipment and controls used in their geother- mal mechanical stations compliments the best-in-class installa- tion on the ground side. This ensures the preservation of a proj- ect’s historical integrity while ensuring the most future-forward innovations in space heating and cooling are utilized. Geothermal can have the greatest impact on multi-residential, commercial, and institutional projects, especially from a cost and performance perspective. For instance, if all the schools in Canada that require replacement of their heating and cooling systems over the next ten years invested in geoexchange systems, energy savings could exceed $1 billion, and the environmental impact would be immense. Despite its proven viability and the potential of its impact, geo- thermal only represents five percent of real estate market share in Ontario. This is due in large part to an unfavourable spark spread. Low gas prices make the shift to electrified systems a harder sell, especially where there is a lack of political will, a sense of market inertia, and the need for capacity building on an industry level. “One of the key challenges for the industry at large is trying to create this renewed groundswell and create political will to really shine a light on geothermal as the leading, and most credible way to help achieve low-carbon, net-zero community aspirations,” explains Director of Marketing and Sales for Geosource Energy, Darryl Chow. FEBRUARY 2022 28 All levels of government have a role to play to ensure that environmental protection is legislated, and that carbon- intensive energy resources continue to be taxed appropri- ately, while offering incentives up front that can help offset the higher installation costs and encourage the adoption of greener alternatives. From Alaica’s perspective, “Helping bridge the incremental cost of a higher performance building is the key. If there is any way to allow the development community to reduce those incremental costs, this will help drive the business case for a higher performance building; this is exactly what the geo- thermal third-party utility model does.” The construction industry is historically one of the slowest to evolve. There is a commitment to tried and true construction methods, despite the increasing availability of viable alterna- tives that improve performance and sustainability. However, as municipalities continue to establish green building standards to help achieve lower emissions targets, the construction industry will have no choice but to adapt to a cleaner, greener approach to design and construction. Geothermal will be an important part of the overall solution. “Toronto is a great market for understanding how the munici- palities can drive change in the building sector, specifically. With the introduction of the Toronto Green Standard, the city is showing leadership in establishing a more prescriptive guideline around energy and carbon performance of facilities, which is a step in the right direction,” says Alaica. Sustainability is nothing without collaboration, and in the case of green construction, it will require a multifaceted effort of industry professionals, government representatives, and education leaders to ensure the industry has the capacity to support growth in demand. This is particularly true of training what Chow refers to as, “the next generation of sustainable green construction-trades people.” Fleming College has launched a first of its kind geothermal program to provide a combination of hands-on training in drilling, installation, repair, and maintenance of geother- mal systems which will address a growing need for industry accredited professionals. To support these ends, Geosource Energy created the Sustainability and Renewable Energy in Construction Student Award through the Tridel Corporation’s BOLT Charitable Foundation to encourage students in the field and provide mentorship. As Chow puts it, “We really do have to equip our future workforce with the right opportunities so they can get into this game to put not just Ontario, but Canada on the map as a global leader in the green construction industry.” As a constant champion of geothermal, Geosource Energy supports Workforce 2030, a coalition of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) that is dedicated to fast-tracking workforce growth and building industry capacity overall. In partnership with the CaGBC, Geosource Energy will be convening an expert panel of key industry stakeholders via an interactive webinar that will serve as a masterclass in geothermal heating and cooling. They hope that by having these conversations with individuals involved throughout the design, construction, and operation of buildings, convenings of this nature can break down barriers to the implementa- tion of critical low-carbon technologies like geothermal. The Drilldown: Masterclass in Geothermal Energy is scheduled for April 20 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern via Zoom. Tune in to learn more and see for yourself how leaders like Geosource Energy and Collecdev are embracing low-carbon alternatives like geothermal for a greener future. The market is ripe with potential, and geothermal is a business decision that can improve lives, save money and the environment, while improving the bottom line. Content Developed by Wendy Hood-Morris | Designed by Ebic Tristary 29 RESOURCE IN FOCUS Next >