Project Experts
Geneviève Gauthier Project Director
Meryama Mouttahid Technical Expert
Christian Lemieux Project Manager
An ESCO Project at Cégep de Jonquière Under Independent Verification
Ensuring Long-Term Performance
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Client
Cégep de Jonquière
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Year
2019 - On-going
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Region
- North America (USA-Canada)
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Service
- Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs)
- Project Performance Measurement and Verification (M&V)
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Countries
Canada
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Provinces
Quebec
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Sector
- Commercial and Institutional
How do you make sure that the energy savings promised today actually materialize 10 or even 15 years down the line?
That’s one of the core challenges of Energy Service Company (ESCO) projects. At Cégep de Jonquière, Econoler plays a critical role in bridging that gap—ensuring that performance commitments translate into real, measurable results over time.
A Complex Campus, an Ambitious Energy Challenge
Cégep de Jonquière is anything but simple. Its campus includes a wide range of buildings — classrooms, specialized labs, sports facilities, student residences, auditorium, kitchen and cafeteria, and leasable commercial spaces — each with its own operational realities.
Optimizing energy performance in this context is no small feat. It requires balancing technical performance with occupant comfort across highly diverse environments.
To tackle this challenge, the Cégep launched a large-scale energy efficiency project under an ESCO model, where savings are contractually guaranteed by a specialized firm.
The Mandate
Econoler was brought in to provide independent oversight throughout the project, validating both energy and financial performance over time and ensuring that projected savings are truly achieved.
Ensuring Promised Energy Savings Through Rigorous, Ongoing Independent Verification
Building Confidence Through Independent Verification
Acting as a trusted third party, Econoler is responsible for:
- Ensuring the Measurement & Verification (M&V) plan aligns with the international IPMVP® protocol
- Reviewing and validating annual energy performance reports
- Assessing and justifying any adjustments to energy baselines
- Updating financial projections based on actual results
- Recommending best practices for tracking and documentation
This independent role is key to maintaining transparency between stakeholders, and to reinforcing confidence in the ESCO model.
Proposed Solution: A Rigorous Approach
Econoler deployed a rigorous approach based on internationally recognized M&V best practices.
Key actions include:
- Independently reviewing calculations and performance assumptions
- Analyzing discrepancies between projected and actual performance
- Using RETScreen® Expert to model and assess specific measures, such as upgrading the glazing of a 12-storey tower
- Overseeing adjustments related to operational changes (renovations, control strategies, etc.)
The result: a robust, transparent, and repeatable approach to performance validation.
Real Impact: Verified Results and Reduced Risk
This structured, independent approach delivers tangible value:
- Energy performance is validated with confidence
- Financial decisions rely on solid, data-backed insights
- Performance risks are actively managed and reduced
- Long-term savings are protected
Tangible Benefits for Smarter Decision-Making
For Cégep de Jonquière, this translates to:
- Reliable, third-party confirmation of energy performance
- Lower operating costs
- Reduced reliance on energy
- Modernized equipment and systems
- Better-informed financial management
- Clear visibility into performance trends over time
Proof by the Numbers
Turning Energy Savings Promises into Sustained, Verified Performance
The project will continue to be monitored annually through 2033.
Econoler will continue to independently verify performance reports produced by the ESCO firm, adjust analyses based on actual operating conditions, and update financial assessments.
In the long term, this collaboration will not only sustain energy savings but also strengthen confidence in ESCO models as a powerful driver of the energy transition.