Saanich Gordon Head Recreation Centre

The District of Saanich will upgrade its current boiler system at the community’s Gordon Head Recreation Centre (GHRC). The innovative design of the retrofit, which consists of an air source heat pump (ASHP)*, will allow the municipality to achieve significant reductions in energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. The municipality developed a municipal strategic plan that reviewed replacement options for its outdated boiler system at the recreational facility. Comparisons to similar recreational facilities demonstrated significant inefficiencies in GHRC’s current boiler system. Based on a feasibility study and recommendations from staff and consultants, the ASHP was the best solution for financial savings and carbon emission reductions. The ASHP will meet at least three quarters of the building’s peak heating load by connecting with existing heat piping. Supplementary heat sourcing from high efficiency condensing boilers will supply heat for the coldest parts of the year, and the retrofit will enhance the building’s existing solar hot water system. The district’s engineering department will access 5 minute interval data for electricity usage, as well as FortisBC monthly data usage to track system usage and performance. Furthermore, the project aligns with the plans and policies of the district, such as the Sustainable Saanich Official Community Plan (2008), the Climate Action Plan (2010), the Saanich Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP), and the district’s annual Strategic Plan. Based on conservative estimates, the project could achieve approximately 6,698 GJ in energy savings per year, as well as GHG reductions of almost 400 tonnes with a reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Temperature control within the building would increase, resulting in a 49 per cent energy efficiency improvement and estimated operational savings of over $31,000 per year. The ASHP tie-in will also enhance the existing solar water heater by at least 25 per cent to the equivalent of 500 GJ of energy per year. Finally, the project will assist the municipality in reaching its 2020 target of a 50 per cent GHG reduction in municipal operations as compared to 2007 levels. So far the municipality has reached a 15 per cent reduction and this retrofit will result in an additional 7 per cent reduction. The knowledge value of this initiative is found in the applicant’s approach to what could have been a standard boiler replacement, but instead consisted of a low-carbon ASHP that will integrate within the existing building envelope. The approach could apply to other municipalities with similar climates to that of Saanich, especially those west coast communities that are working towards net zero GHG emissions. Although there is an initial higher cost, the payback is better than standard and high-efficiency boiler replacements, and the greenhouse gas emissions work in favour of the retrofit. (Project description from original funding application)