Toronto makes a big splash with solar energy

July 6, 2008
posted by Alexandre Malkhassiants Canada News Wire post release

The City of Toronto officially launched the heating of four indoor pools using solar energy. The solar pool heatingsystems are the largest municipally-owned installations in Canada, and areheating pools at three of the City's recreation centres.

At 312 metres squared (m2), the Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre solarpool heating system is the largest in Canada (there are two pools at thislocation, each is serviced by its own system; the smaller solar system is 94m2). Scarborough Centennial Recreation Centre's solar heating system is 250 m2and the installation at the Agincourt Recreation Centre, where the day's eventwas held, is 241 m2.

"The City of Toronto has committed to very aggressive goals through theClimate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Plan, projects like this willpush us even closer to meeting them," noted Councillor Paula Fletcher, Chairof the Parks and Environment Committee. "These installations alone reduce CO2emissions by 103 tonnes. The plan is that all City-owned pools will be heatedusing solar energy, and I would like to see all privately-owned poolsfollowing suit." "This is a wonderful start to making Toronto a solar city," saidCouncillor Chin Lee, Director of Toronto Atmospheric Fund who helped financethe early pilot installations. "It helps show that solar energy is a viablelocal option."

"Swimming is one of the most popular recreational activities for childrenand families. Now they can also learn about and contribute to a sustainablefuture at their local swimming pool with the energy retrofit of our pools,arenas and recreation centres," commented Brenda Librecz, General Manager,Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

The costs of the solar heating systems installations were covered by theCity's Energy Retrofit Program, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) and NaturalResources Canada (NRCan). TAF funding for these projects totalled $52,786,while the NRCan funding was $26,031.

The City's Energy Retrofit Program undertakes retrofit projects inCity-owned facilities to reduce their energy and water consumption. Since2004, more than 200 City-owned buildings have been upgraded through the EnergyRetrofit Program.

"Facilities and Real Estate is always looking for innovative ways toimprove our facilities, make them greener while saving the City operatingcosts. The Energy Retrofit Program allows us to do just that," explained JodieParmar, Director, Business and Strategic Innovation, Facilities and RealEstate. "At a time of budget constraints, the Energy Retrofit Program allowsus to invest in our aging, sometimes inefficient facilities, and make themoperate more efficiently."

Other projects completed as part of the Energy Retrofit Program include:the City Arenas, Civic Centres, Fire Halls, and a number of buildings atExhibition Place. Currently City staff are working on energy retrofit projectsfor Police Division buildings, Transfer Stations and Community Centres.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and hometo a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engineof Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America.In the past three years, Toronto has won more than 50 awards for quality andinnovation in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated toprosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.

For more information about Toronto and area go here - http://www.torontogreathomes.com/GTA_HOMES/page_282601.html