Beneva puts its energy to work

Beneva: Where collective wellness meets the energy transition

When you're the biggest mutual insurance company in the country, taking care of people goes beyond merely providing coverage. Beneva recognizes that individual health is closely tied to the health of the planet. By transforming one of its office buildings into a model of energy efficiency, the company has lowered its greenhouse gas emissions and emerged as a front-runner in the energy transition. It's a mindset that aligns perfectly with its mission.

A sustainable corporate vision

For Beneva, the energy transition is not just a green initiative: it's a priority that aligns with the company's commitment to invest in global wellness while accelerating a just transition toward a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient world.

The company's goal? To reach its net-zero emission targets for its operations and investments by 2040 and for the full range of its activities by 2050.

"Sustainability is at the heart of our strategy," said Christelle Lim-Severe, Beneva's sustainability practice leader. "By 2030, we want to decarbonize our activities and cut the greenhouse gas emissions from our operations by 50%. For us, it's about contributing to a healthier tomorrow for everyone."

To achieve these goals, the company has been rolling out initiatives for several years now, including a total rethink of its approach to energy, as witnessed by the transformation of its offices at 2505, boulevard Laurier, Québec.

"Whenever a piece of equipment would reach the end of its useful life, we'd ask ourselves: what's the best way to transition to green energy?" said Andréa Daigle, the company's energy efficiency programs advisor. "Electricity is the obvious choice. With that, we decided to replace our natural gas heating systems with 100% electric solutions."

Recognizing the size of the undertaking and wishing to electrify its premises in a way that was both smart and sustainable, Beneva turned to Hydro‑Québec for customized support.

Different options studied

The starting point: a thorough analysis of the building's energy use. Once the baseline was established, various scenarios were explored to determine the best approach. The challenge here was not just to convert the system to electricity, but to do so in a way that was intelligent, efficient and sustainable. During the winter preceding the work, the company implemented a power demand management system to ensure that all measurements were accurate and to check the monthly set points. Beneva also took advantage of the opportunity to sign up for Hydro‑Québec's Demand Response (DR) Option in preparation for the transition to electricity during off-peak periods.

Several scenarios were considered. Carefully detailed with data on energy costs, demand profiles and fuel use reduction potential, each scenario was then optimized with Beneva's partner, which adjusted the heat pump efficiency projections based on the equipment being considered.

A custom solution

To meet its energy efficiency and decarbonization goals, Beneva ultimately chose to combine three technologies: a low-temperature aerothermal heat pump, a thermal storage unit, and an electric furnace.

Each component of this balanced trio plays a specific role:

1. The air/water aerothermal heat pump is a versatile solution for heating water and air, as well as for cooling, thereby reducing energy consumption while improving comfort.
2. The thermal storage unit stores energy during off-peak periods in order to release it during peak demand periods, thus helping to reduce demand during extreme cold spells when Hydro‑Québec's grid is under significant pressure.
3. The electric furnace is an effective top-up and backup solution that is only used when the mercury dips below -20°C, thereby guaranteeing an optimal indoor temperature, even during periods of intense cold.

A major hurdle: Ensuring equipment synergy

For Jean-François Ouellet, Engineer — Technical Expertise at Hydro‑Québec, one of the project's biggest hurdles was its implementation. "Our greatest challenge was ensuring that the equipment—heat pump, thermal storage and furnace—worked in synergy to avoid electrical overloads, all while maintaining comfort levels for the building's occupants," he said.

Meticulous planning was needed to set up the smart system that controls these devices. Getting it all to work involved:

• Prioritizing heat pump operations to serve as the main heating source and thereby maximizing efficiency.
• Managing use of the electric furnace before and after peak periods.
• Optimizing the thermal storage unit during off-peak periods to ensure a continuous supply of heat without increasing power demand.

Indeed, this synergy is what allowed Beneva to go one step further in optimizing its energy and decarbonization strategy in order to lower its power demand during peak demand events and benefit from the Demand Response Option.

Towards energy and cost savings

These initiatives allowed Beneva to eliminate its use of fossil fuels altogether, resulting in a 97% drop in the retrofitted building's GHG emissions—an achievement of which the company is justifiably proud.

And that's not all. The building at 2505, boulevard Laurier today stands as a model of energy efficiency. The results are impressive: in 2023 alone, the company recorded a 25% decrease in energy use, representing yearly savings of $120,000. What's more, the DR Option earned Beneva a credit of $24,689.30 at the end of the winter.

"Thanks to this project, we have reduced our environmental footprint and are also enjoying significant financial savings. It's a win-win all round," said Ms. Daigle.