CNDF: Beyond Energy Savings, Unlocking the Value of Non-Energy Benefits

What if the true value of energy efficiency projects extended far beyond energy savings?

  • Client

    Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy (CNDF)

  • Year

    2025-2026

  • Region
    • North America (USA-Canada)
  • Service
    • Non-Energy Benefits (NEBs) Identification and Evaluation
  • Countries

    Canada

  • Provinces

    Quebec

  • Sector
    • Commercial and Institutional

Securing approval from investors for energy efficiency or decarbonization projects often remains a challenge, particularly when such initiatives compete with other investments perceived as more closely aligned with organizational strategic priorities. Yet, beyond energy savings, these projects generate a wide range of non-energy benefits — including improved occupant comfort, reduced operational risks, time savings, and lower operating and maintenance costs — that directly contribute to their overall value and appeal to decision-makers.

With this in mind, Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy (CNDF) undertook an analysis of these non-energy benefits. The objective was to better demonstrate the overall value of a proposed project while supporting decision-making and the development of future energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives.

Quantifying the Full Value of an Energy Project

The objective of the work carried out by Econoler was to identify the non-energy benefits associated with the project and, where possible, quantify and monetize them. The analysis was aimed at highlighting the overall project value and demonstrate its impacts beyond energy savings alone.

The Mandate: An Analysis to Better Inform Investment Decisions

Econoler conducted a non-energy benefits assessment to support the valuation of energy efficiency investments at CNDF. The mandate involved identifying, quantifying, and monetizing the non-energy benefits associated with the measures implemented through the project.

Why Non-Energy Benefits Change the Conversation

Traditionally, energy efficiency projects are evaluated primarily based on energy savings and technical performance. While these factors are essential, they are not always aligned with the strategic priorities of leadership teams responsible for approving investments.

At CNDF, several operational challenges reinforced the need for action. An aging heating system heavily reliant on natural gas increased the risk of equipment failures, temperature fluctuations, and occupant discomfort. Optimizing the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems presented an opportunity to improve thermal comfort, ventilation, and indoor air quality for students, staff, and facility users.

Centralizing building control systems also offered an opportunity to improve operational efficiency by reducing manual interventions and simplifying the management of occupant comfort and building performance. In parallel, significant asset maintenance needs combined with budget constraints highlighted the importance of establishing a sustainable investment strategy to support long-term operational resilience.

The Econoler approach helps shift this perspective by incorporating non-energy benefits — often overlooked due to a lack of methodology or data — into project financial assessments. These benefits may include reduced maintenance costs, improved occupant comfort, enhanced organizational reputation, and gains related to health, productivity, and environmental performance.

Impacts that Go Far Beyond the Energy Bill

For CNDF, the analysis provided a new decision-support tool that now helps demonstrate the strategic value of energy efficiency investments to decision-makers and investors.

The assessment also highlighted tangible benefits for all campus stakeholders — including students, staff, occupants, and the broader community — through improved environmental conditions, reduced operating costs, and lower environmental impacts.

Some of the benefits identified included the following:

  • Reduced operating costs, including energy costs and certain indirect expenses;
  • Strengthened CNDF value proposition for students, employees, and partners;
  • Improved financial justification for decarbonization investments.

Measurable Financial and Environmental Outcomes

The MBENEFITS analysis served to identify 26 non-energy benefits, six of which were quantified and monetized for inclusion in the project financial evaluation.

The monetized non-energy benefits included:

  • Reduced equipment failures and breakdowns;
  • Lower maintenance costs related to lighting systems and boilers;
  • Improved campus image and reputation;
  • Asbestos removal.

The integration of non-energy benefits significantly improved the financial indicators of the project.

Evaluation Based on Energy Benefits Only

  • Total project cost: CAD 5.7 million
  • Net present value (NPV): CAD 319,763
  • Internal rate of return (IRR): 8.19%
  • Simple payback period: 10 years

Evaluation of Energy and Non-Energy Benefits

  • NPV: CAD 1,513,036
  • IRR: 12.51%
  • Simple Payback Period: 7 years

Healthier, More Comfortable, and Higher-Performing Learning Environments

By improving quality, comfort, and safety conditions across educational spaces, residences, and sports facilities, CNDF strengthened its value proposition for students, employees, and other stakeholders. Improved indoor air quality, enhanced thermal comfort, and higher-performing facilities contribute to better learning environments, occupant well-being, as well as reduced health, absenteeism, and operational risks.

The project also helps reduce ongoing operating costs — including energy and maintenance expenses — while improving equipment and building durability, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting the ability of CNDF to fulfill its mission over the long term.

Conversely, without implementing the project, the risks associated with aging buildings and equipment would have continued to increase, along with future investment requirements, in a context of rising costs and potentially declining incentives. CNDF’s value proposition to stakeholders could have gradually been eroded, thus increasing long-term operational and financial risks.

The First Application of MBENEFITS in Canada

Econoler applied the MBENEFITS methodology, a structured approach used to identify, quantify, and, where possible, monetize the non-energy benefits associated with energy efficiency and decarbonization projects.

By incorporating factors often excluded from traditional financial analyses — such as reduced maintenance costs, improved occupant comfort, enhanced organizational reputation, and operational improvements — the MBENEFITS methodology provides a more comprehensive picture of overall project value.

The CNDF project represents the first application of the MBENEFITS methodology and case study conducted in Canada, marking an important milestone in adapting and demonstrating the relevance of this approach within the Canadian context pursuant to applications primarily carried out in Europe and the United States.

This project was carried out as part of a SOFIAC initiative. Econoler contributed by conducting an assessment of the non-energy benefits associated with the energy efficiency measures implemented.

Rethinking the Value of Energy Efficiency Projects

This first Canadian application of the MBENEFITS methodology demonstrates that energy efficiency projects generate significantly more value than what is traditionally measured.

By making non-energy benefits visible and quantifiable, the MBENEFITS methodology helps organizations make better-informed investment decisions and accelerate the implementation of decarbonization projects.

Learn more about non-energy benefits