Fresh Air Forward: Revamping York Region Schools

250 Changeair Units Boost Air Quality Across a School District in Toronto

Case Study: York Region School District

The York Region District School Board is one of the largest and most influential educational organizations in the Greater Toronto Area. Known for its commitment to sustainability and efficient use of resources, the school district undertook a significant initiative to retrofit 250 portable classrooms across nearly 100 schools, enhancing comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency.

Project highlights

Enhancing Indoor Air Quality

The school district needed to integrate advanced air handling features to meet the increasing demands for healthier educational environments.

Improve Energy Efficiency

The implementation of energy recovery wheels and heat pumps helped to significantly reduce energy consumption.

A Customized, Quiet Solution

Tailored designs featuring unique components like external indicator lights to adapt to the low noise operation of the new systems.

Improvement on Sustainable Practices

Upgrades were executed with a strong emphasis on minimizing energy costs and enhancing environmental sustainability.

Project Facts

Region
Americas
Completion
2024
Applications
Education
Design & Engineer

Introba

Innovative Retrofit Strategies

The York Region District School Board retrofit was meticulously planned, focusing on the replacement of 250 existing HVAC units in mobile school classrooms near Toronto. Each unit was swapped for Systemair's Sophomore IQ Series, which was selected for its remarkable efficiency and adaptability.

This strategic selection was crucial to meet the unique demands of the portable classrooms widely used across the district. The upgrade not only introduced essential air conditioning but also significantly enhanced ventilation, which is vital for creating an optimal learning environment.

However, the project faced several challenges, including the logistical complexities of coordinating installations across nearly 100 schools and the integration of systems into varied existing structures, many of which had aging electrical infrastructures.

“Adding cooling in any building and infrastructure requires huge electrical demands. That was a big [challenge] just for planning and lead time and the massive electrical infrastructure it requires,” said Larry Ferreira, Canadian Regional Sales Manager for Systemair.

Additionally, the retrofit was designed to replace existing units that lacked adequate ventilation and cooling capabilities, with no previous integration of heat pump efficiencies. These older VAV units were upgraded to newer, advanced models that required only minor modifications to enlarge the existing openings—a task efficiently managed ahead of time.

The use of vertical unit ventilators (VUVs) facilitated quick installation by quickly moving them into classrooms and positioning them against walls, minimizing disruption to school activities. Unlike rooftop units, which require cranes and careful scheduling around availability and weather, the VUVs allowed for a more flexible and less intrusive installation, demonstrating a thoughtful approach to both educational needs and infrastructure management.

 

Success in Silence and Comfort

The retrofit project at the school district has been a resounding success, marked by tangible improvements in the quality of the learning environment through enhanced air quality and reduced energy costs. These enhancements have positioned the York Region District School Board as a leader in energy efficiency, achieving one of the lowest rates of energy consumption per square foot among Ontario's school boards.

This project highlighted the importance of thorough pre-project planning. It was crucial to check the existing electrical systems and ensure that the older, portable classrooms could support the new, advanced HVAC systems. And flexibility throughout the project allowed the team to adapt to unexpected challenges such as delays in electrical upgrades and adapting the installation to fit the unique sizes and shapes of the classrooms.

The success of this initiative not only underscores the district's dedication to sustainability but also showcases the role of advanced HVAC solutions in fostering healthier, more sustainable educational settings. This success story serves as a model for other districts aiming to combine educational excellence with environmental stewardship.

Building on this success, the York Region District School Board is planning to implement a scaled-up version of this project, involving a 20-unit installation for permanent classrooms, further extending the benefits of improved indoor air quality and energy efficiency across the district.

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