INNOVATION November-December 2015

A key engineering issue concerned the building site itself, which is located one kilometre from the Fraser River. “The soils in the area are river sand overlain by organic silt, with various depths of fill on top,” says Kumar. “Soils at our site are even worse, because they are overlain with a peat layer up to one metre thick, with wood waste over that that is up to two metres thick, and fill soil over that of uneven quality. Alternate foundation designs were examined and, ultimately, piles were selected with different combinations of steel, reinforced concrete, and timber options.” Results The Harvest Energy Garden project has received many honours, including the 2015 APEGBC Environmental Award . The project has created long-term employment opportunities and sustainable business practices that make local companies more competitive. Having such a facility in the region means that food waste is no longer considered garbage in Metro Vancouver, and waste haulers face stiff financial penalties for bringing loads containing more than 25% organic waste to a transfer station. With Harvest Energy Garden providing an efficient and economically viable method of processing mixed yard and food waste, British Columbia’s Lower Mainland has now embraced a greener future by reducing landfill deposits while producing valuable compost and renewable alternative energy from its household and municipal organic waste. Food waste—once an environmentally and economically expensive problem for BC's Lower Mainland municipalities—has become a valued resource. v

Photo: Opus DaytonKnight

Opus DaytonKnight, the project’s main sub-consultant, helped adapt Harvest Energy Garden’s mechanical and electrical design. The company’s project team included (from left) Seamus Frain, P.Eng., Goran Vranic, P.Eng., Bengul Kurtar, P.Eng., Harlan Kelly, P.Eng., and Tjandra Tjondrotekodjojo, P.Eng.

Congratulations to the FortisBC Efficiency in Action Award winners! Ten organizations, from the health care, education, foodservice, pulp and paper, new home construction and entertainment industries, are improving their bottom line through energy efficiency and winning awards for it too. Find out who won and how your organization can be at the forefront of energy efficiency. fortisbc.com/commercialawards

FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. (15-065.13 07/2015)

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