Royal Roads University Decarbonization

Project Overview

Royal Roads University in Colwood, BC, recently decarbonized its Nixon Student Housing building by replacing natural gas-fired domestic hot water boilers with a Lync Aegis CO₂ heat pump system. This upgrade supports the university’s campus-wide climate action goals and provides reliable hot water for residents.

Challenge

The Nixon building had high hot water demand from showers and shared facilities. Meeting this load with gas boilers contributed significantly to campus greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, conflicting with Royal Roads’ commitment to carbon reduction.

Solution

The university installed a Lync Aegis CO₂ heat pump, which uses air from the ambient environment (down to -20C) to efficiently produce hot water at the temperatures required for domestic use. Using CO₂ (R744) as the refrigerant ensures both high performance and minimal environmental impact as this refrigerant type only has a GWP of 1.

Results

• GHG Reduction: Eliminated on-site combustion for hot water, cutting a major source of emissions

• Energy Efficiency: Achieved higher efficiency compared to traditional boilers, lowering overall energy use

• Sustainability Leadership: Demonstrates Royal Roads’ commitment to campus decarbonization and serves as a model for other post-secondary institutions

By adopting the Lync Aegis CO₂ heat pump, Royal Roads University significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the Nixon Student Housing building while ensuring reliable hot water delivery for students.