Return to The Herald Home Page

 

Energy audit for community centres

by Terry McQuitty

The Township of Douro-Dummer is on the lookout for ways to save money.

In February 2011 council adopted an energy management plan which hopes to see a reduction in energy consumption of eight per cent by 2014 and 16 per cent by 2018.

The objectives of the plan are to build strong support and participation in green programs through communication and training; to complete energy audits on two of the top five energy consuming buildings in the municipality; and reduce the energy consumption in the Douro Community Centre and the Warsaw Community Centre by 10 per cent by the 2014 fiscal year.

The township is presently making an effort to reduce energy consumption at all of its facilities with a focus on the community centres.

Some energy saving devices have been installed, but a staff report stated that with limited dollars it is important that the township target areas with the biggest savings potential.

Staff stated that the only way to optimize the dollars is to have an energy audit done on the community centres that will examine the areas for savings and analyze which areas will produce the most savings for the money invested.

The cost of completing an energy audit on the two community centres will be between $10,000 and $20,000. Funding for the audit is available through Hydro One for up to 50 per cent of the total cost.

It was stated in the report that the remainder of the money could be accessed through the Gas Tax Fund or taken from the tax levy.

Council agreed that staff should prepare a request for proposal for a consultant to do an energy audit, but Deputy Mayor Karl Moher added that the prospective candidates should outline the potential savings once the project is complete.

Click here for copyright permissions!
Copyright 2010 Lakefield Herald Ltd.
Tweet

 

Return to The Herald Home Page