2011年10月13日 星期四

Green upgrades save cash

Some of city’s big-ticket facilities have gone green over the last two years, saving not only the environment, but also the city’s ailing pocket book.

Last week, Cambridge council received the final report on the infrastructure improvements program at the city’s pools, arenas, community centres and public works building on Bishop Street.The additions focus on key tag and impact socket combinations,

Bob Paul, the city’s director of facilities management and development provided council with an overview of the report.

“In just two short years, a great deal has been accomplished,” Paul said, noting that the goal of the upgrades was to increase efficiencies and accessibility, and address safety concerns while reducing energy usage.

Paul explained, that by being able to apply quickly when the federal and provincial governments were looking for projects for the economic stimulus package, Cambridge was able to win funding This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their chicken coop .for the bulk of its “shovel ready” projects. Cambridge received $21.6 million, which covered two-thirds of the cost of the improvements.

Between 2009 and 2011, the city fixed up six arenas, two indoor pools and the public works building with the infrastructure funding.

The total amount of work generated by the infrastructure projects was more than 188,200 hours. All the work had to be completed by the program’s March 30 deadline, Paul said. The total reduction in greenhouse gases is estimated to be 300.5 metric tonnes and the energy savings is estimated to be about 15 per cent.

At the arenas, some of the $12 million allotted was used to make improvements to two of the most costly elements – repairing or replacing the massive parking lots and installing new roofs with green technology to reduce energy use. Improvements were also made to their refrigeration units, accessibility and energy efficiency.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

“With the improvements we’ve made to the building envelopes we’ve extended the lifespan of these buildings by another 20 years,” he told council.

At the city’s two indoor pools the aging mechanical systems was replaced, which led to improvements in water quality, as well as energy efficiency.

At Hespeler’s W. G. Johnson Centre a major overhaul was undertaken. The pool got a new mechanical system, a green wall was installed and the entire facility is now heated and cooled by a geothermal system. It is the first municipal building to have a geothermal system.

It and the John Dolson Centre got new parking lots, roofs, accessibility improvements, HVAC and energy efficiency upgrades and landscaping. Total cost of the recreation centre and pool improvements was $5.4 million.

A $4.2 million overhaul was also undertaken at the public works centre Bishop Street where new lighting fixtures, better insulation and ventilation, new windows and mechanical systems were installed. The icing on the cake for this project was the installation of a solar array on the roof, which is hooked into the electrical grid and will generate enough power to run the building with juice left over for the city to sell to Hydro One.

“We can generate 20 kilowatts per hour and put it onto the grid,” Paul said.

The yearly income being generated by the solar array is estimated at $17,700, while the anticipated power savings will average 6.4 per cent. The savings in greenhouse gas emissions is estimated to be 4.2 metric tonnes.

Mayor Doug Craig praised Paul and his staff for bringing the projects in on time and on budget.
“It just reflects on the expertise of our staff and the preparation they had already done,” he said.

Coun. Gary Price said, “Bob has done a great job. We had the information needed when the government asked for it. As a result we were able to get the funding and sooner than other municipalities so it made it easier to meet the deadlines.Save on Bedding and fittings,”

In answer to a question raised by Coun.Initially the banks didn't want our RUBBER SHEET . Donna Reid, Paul said staff is looking at ways of finding similar savings and efficiencies at other city buildings.

Final figures on the savings accrued from the infrastructure improvements is now being prepared by city staff and will be presented during January’s budget sessions.

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