(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Renewable energy

Energy audit shows city could see significant savings by going green

Feb 25, 2021 | 3:58 PM

The City of North Battleford is looking at ways to be more energy efficient.

A delegation at council’s recent meeting indicated the city would see significant savings by investing in more green energy sources for its buildings.

Kevin Thurston of Thurston Engineering Services and Jason Praski of Exa Energy Consulting presented the results of their recent audit after reviewing five of the city’s facilities; the four Credit Union CUplex facilities and the wastewater treatment plant.

The audit included looking at using solar power and biofuel methods to be more energy efficient, as well as potentially making some operational adjustments for facilities that could have positive results to reduce energy costs.

The city applied for money from the Green Municipal Fund through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to use for the feasibility study to identify potential projects in North Battleford to make the city more energy efficient.

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Mayor David Gillan said there is always a price tag to consider for implementing new initiatives, such as solar power.

“There are a number of avenues to look at to try to reduce the capital costs. Then, you get a bit more favourable payback,” he said. “To shorten that payback [time] is the whole idea.”

For solar powered energy, for example, the report indicated the estimated operating cost savings could be about $2.4 million over 20 years for a capital cost for five projects at about $1.5 million.

The city hopes to start to save energy and find savings by making some simple operational adjustments, such as reducing temperatures slightly in a space when it is not in use, that would have little to no cost to implement.

The report proposed using energy efficiency measures, such as adjusting the Aquatic Centre pool water and space temperatures slightly, that could save $9,000 per year, depending on what is appropriate.

Thurston said before any adjustments would be made to any operational systems the consultants would first discuss the matter with city administration to ensure everyone is in agreement.

“We are planning a final visit to go over these to make sure that we have buy-in from everybody, and that everybody is comfortable with what we are proposing,” he said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW