Acacia Engineering Ltd.

Using Expert, VT Group completed an energy audit for a automotive dealership facility in Medicine Hat. RETScreen was used to compare the building’s existing performance against proposed upgrades, helping identify practical energy-saving opportunities with measurable financial results.

Results:
✔ 139,164 kWh/year total energy savings
✔ 281,006 kWh/year fuel savings
✔ 17.8% fuel reduction
✔ 18.3% GHG reduction
✔ Approx. $9,425 annual fuel cost savings

The audit identified several high-impact energy conservation measures, including:
• LED lighting retrofits
• Motion & daylight controls
• Programmable thermostats
• High-efficiency heating equipment
• Ventilation improvements aligned with ASHRAE standards

One of the key insights from the RETScreen analysis was that heating represented the facility’s primary weather-sensitive energy load, while lighting and controls offered strong opportunities for electricity savings.

At VT Group, we use RETScreen as part of our ASHRAE energy audits to help clients make informed, data-driven decisions that improve building performance, reduce operating costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more about how we use RETScreen in our projects:
🌐: https://vtgroup.ca/retscreen/

With CanmetÉnergie / CanmetEnergy-Varennes

A recent case study demonstrates the strength of in supporting data-driven retrofit decisions.

For an and Development office in Lindsay, Ontario, RETScreen was used to model both baseline and proposed building performance, enabling a comprehensive evaluation of energy, cost, and emissions impacts.

Key :
• 64.9% reduction in total energy use
• 76.2% reduction in fuel consumption
• 297,044 kWh/year in
• 90% reduction in GHG emissions (31.9 tCO₂e)
• $21,301 in annual fuel cost savings

The model evaluated a full suite of integrated upgrades, including:
• Building envelope improvements (insulation, air sealing, high-performance glazing)
• High-efficiency air-to-air heat pumps
• Energy recovery ventilation (55% effectiveness)
• LED lighting with occupancy controls
• 40 kW solar PV system

The key takeaway is the ability of RETScreen to convert detailed technical inputs into clear, decision-ready outputs. In this case, the most significant gains were achieved by reducing heating demand through envelope and mechanical upgrades, with solar PV further offsetting electrical consumption.

For organizations planning retrofits or new builds, this type of modeling is critical to prioritizing investments and validating outcomes.

If you're working through similar challenges, it’s worth a conversation.

With VT Group of Companies (Acacia, VerdaTech and Qualistat) and CanmetÉnergie / CanmetEnergy-Varennes