Richard Froese
South Peace News
Several community buildings in Big Lakes County may be assessed in 2025 in a study to control and reduce greenhouse gases with support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
At its regular meeting Sept. 25, council passed a recommendation to approve $49,600 in the 2025 operating budget to hire a consulting company to conduct a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pathways Feasibility Study for 13 Big Lakes community buildings, contingent on grant funding.
The proposed cost includes a nine per cent contingency.
A project proposal completed by Hummingbird Energy suggests that the study examine the following facilities:
-Big Lakes main administration building in High Prairie.
-Big Lakes main public works shop in High Prairie.
-High Prairie Airport.
-Enilda fire hall and FCSS.
-Grouard fire hall and FCSS.
-Joussard fire service head office.
-Joussard FCSS.
-Faust public works and shop.
-Faust fire hall and FCSS.
-Kinuso fire hall.
-Kinuso hamlet office.
-Kinosayo Museum.
-Swan Hills Airport.
Hummingbird Energy completed the proposal at no cost to the County, Joe Zdeb, director of corporate services for Big Lakes, told council.
The FCM Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative is a $167 million program made possible through a federal government contribution of $950 million in its 2019 budget, Zdeb said.
Under the Community Buildings Retrofit initiative, Big Lakes is eligible to apply for a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pathways Study, a funding stream that covers 80 per cent of eligible costs up to $200,000.
With a total cost of $232,665, council would contribute $49,960 and FCM would contribute $182,705.
Each building would receive a detailed energy audit and building condition assessment.
Studies will include feasibility work to support near-term and long-term capital projects, while mapping out a course to extend asset life and reduce cost the cost of ownership.
The study will explore options for at least a 50 per cent reduction in GHG emissions over the selected baseline (2023) over 10 years, with a goal of 80 per cent reduction over 20 years.
The project will identify and recommend energy conservation measures that can be implemented in each building.
Measures may include LED lighting upgrades, building envelope upgrades, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements, renewable energy installations and operational changes.
Measures will reduce the energy consumption and GHG emissions of the buildings, as well as improve their comforts, functionality and resilience.