Report to: General Committee Date of Report December 10, 2007

SUBJECT: Centennial Community Centre Sustainability Study – Green Technology Upgrades

PREPARED BY: Mavis Urquhart, Manager, Environmental Leadership

Viive Sawler, Manager, Markham Energy Office

Alan Wolfe, Project Manager, Asset Management

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Markham Staff report, Centennial Community Centre Study, dated December 10, 2007, be received;

THAT the “Centennial Community Centre Sustainability Study" prepared by Oleson Worland_Taylor Smyth Architects be received;

THAT Council approve the installation of a Solar Water Heating System for Centennial Pool and replacement boilers and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) tanks instead of a green roof at Centennial Community Centre;

THAT Council approve tendering of the seasonal Solar Water Heating Unit for Centennial Pool and the replacement of its 2 existing gas-fired boilers and DHW tanks and associated works by Asset Management staff;

THAT funding, not to exceed $226,500, that was identified for Green Roof installation from the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund (capital project #6789 - $101,500) and the Gas Tax funds (capital project #7326 - $125,000) be used for the installation of this equipment;

THAT the other technological improvements for energy savings for arenas and pools identified in the Study be referred to Manager, Community Centre Operations for assessment and potential future installation in Centennial Community Centre and other community centre facilities;

THAT energy savings of all these retrofits be tracked by the Markham Energy Conservation Office;

AND THAT staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

In 2005, Markham Council approved $125,000 from the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund for a Green Roof on the Civic Centre. An additional $125,000 was approved for a Green Roof and/or other green technologies from gas tax funding. Current available funding is $226,500. This Staff report recommends that these funds be used for the proposed installation of a Solar Thermal Water Heating Unit for the Centennial Pool together with replacement of 2 existing gas-fired boilers and DHW tanks. Projects using 2005 the gas tax funds must be completed and receipts submitted by 2009. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $221,000 and the estimated total cost saving would be $29,293 per year. The combined simple payback of these two measures would be 7.5 years.

In the Study, a number of potential sustainable design systems have been considered and analyzed from the perspective of practicality and “simple payback period” (time for technology to pay for itself). Energy consumption records for electricity and gas for Centennial have been reviewed to provide a context for potential cost savings. The study evaluates the environmental/energy and financial benefits for all of the following sustainable technologies and operational improvements:

· Green roof

· Photovoltaic Roofing System

· Solar Water Heating for the Pool

· Boiler replacements for Domestic Hot Water and Space Heating

· Drain Water Recovery

· Variable Speed Pump to Circulate Coolant in arena

· Variable Speed Fan for Arena Condenser

· Gas-fired Desiccant Dehumidifier

· Dehumidification System for Pool

· Flood water purification system

· Geothermal Heating

· Solar Wall

· Desuperheater

· Dry-O-Tron Dehumidifier system for Pool

The Savings Summary from the feasibility study (Appendix 1) compares financial/environmental benefits of these technologies at Centennial Community Centre, including: cost of retrofit, estimated annual utility savings, annual cost savings, emissions reductions and payback. The Study states that if all the systems investigated were applied to the Centennial Community Centre, the total capital cost would be in the range of $2.0 million and the energy savings would be in the range of 45% and a reduction in the CO2 emissions in the range of 36.8%.

Recommended Technology

Recommended Options

The study identifies options for retrofitting Centennial based upon the analysis and a payback period of less than 10 years, as follows:

1. Pool

· Solar Water Heating for the Pool (Seasonal)

· Replace Pool Dehumidification system at scheduled time

2. Arena

· Variable Speed Pump to circulate coolant in the arena

· Variable Speed Fan for Arena Condenser

· Gas-Fired Desiccant Dehumidifier

· Incorporate a Flood Water Purification System

3. General

· Boiler replacement for Space Heating

The best emission savings and financial return on investment comes from the following combination of improvements:

· installing seasonal solar heating system for the Swimming Pool water

· a new condensing boiler system to heat swimming pool water and DHW and a forced draft high efficiency boiler to heat pool area and health club

This technology has proven to be cost effective with a simple pay back period of 6.7 - 8.4 years with emission reduction of 154.8 tonnes of CO₂.

Green Roof

This study concludes that due to structural considerations only an “extensive” green roof (light weight, shallow depth, and limited variety of planting material) can be installed at Centennial Community Centre. As a result, the energy savings would be minimal. It also concludes that: the existing roof membrane is not designed for green roof insulation; the total area of the roof is not large enough to significantly effect the overall environment; and an extensive green roof on a slope provides less storm water management benefits than an intensive green roof system. Finally, Centennial Pool roof will require renovations in the near future that could affect a green roof installation. The architects conclude that investment in other comparable technologies would provide more tangible benefits, but that the green roof should still be reconsidered when the existing roof membrane is replaced.

Asset Management Staff advise that there are potential opportunities for a Green Roof on the new collections building at the Markham Museum, the new fire station and the Markham East Community Centre and Library.

In the meantime, this Staff report recommends that the Green Roof not proceed on Centennial roof at this time and that the funds identified for the Green roof be used for the proposed installation of a seasonal Solar Water Heating Unit for the Centennial Pool, together with boiler system retrofits and new DHW tanks to promote energy and Greenhouse Gas savings. Projects using the 2005 gas tax funds must be completed and receipts submitted by 2009.

Operational Improvements to improve Energy Consumption for the Pool and for Centennial Arena

Further, there is also an opportunity to update mechanical systems at Centennial with new technology as they reach their replacement point which will reduce energy consumption and would pay for itself in 3 to 9 years. The recommended options identified in the study include:

· Replace Pool Dehumidification system at scheduled time

· Variable Speed Pump to circulate coolant in the arena

· Variable Speed Fan for Arena Condenser

· Gas-Fired Desiccant Dehumidifier

· Incorporate a Flood Water Purification System

These have been reviewed by the Manager, Community Operations and will be individually assessed for potential installation in the Centennial Community Centre and other community centres. Selected improvements could be funded through the Markham Energy Conservation Office.

Other Improvements for Future Consideration in Other Municipal Facilities

Some other technologies that are identified in the study that could be considered for Town facilities include:

· Green Roof

· Photovoltaic Roofing System

· Geothermal heating

· Solar Wall

Asset Management Staff will give consideration to these options for future facilities.

CONCLUSIONS:

The Centennial Community Centre Sustainability Study provides a comparison of sustainable technologies and energy saving improvements that can be made to Centennial Community Centre. Based upon the assessment of various technologies staff recommends that a seasonal Solar Water Heating Unit for Centennial Pool and replacement of existing gas-fired boilers and DHW tanks be undertaken. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $221,000 and the estimated total cost saving would be $29,293 per year. The combined simple payback of these two measures would be 7.5 years.

APPENDIX 1

Savings Summary

Ref. No.	Description of Energy Saving Measure	Estimated Annual Utility Savings		Estimated Annual Cost Savings			Cost of Retrofit	Simple Payback (Years)	GHG Reduction (Tonnes) CO2
		Electricity	Gas	Electricity	Gas	Total
		kWh	M3	$	$	$
4.1	Green Roof	6,057		$540		$540	$290,000		*2.5
4.2	Photovoltaic Roofing Systems	92,160		$38,707	$0	$38,707	$990,000	25.6	28.0
4.3	Solar Water Heating for the Pool		39,994		$14,395	$14,395	$121,000	8.4	76.1
4.4	Replace Gas-Fired Boilers with Condensing Boilers for DHW & Pool and High Efficiency Boilers for Space Heating		41,392		$14,898	$14,898	$100,000	6.7	78.7
4.5	Drain Water Heat Recovery for Ice Melting					$0
4.6	Install a Variable Speed Pump to Circulate Coolant	22,491		$2,000		$2,000	$7,700	3.5	6.8
4.7	Install a Variable Speed Fan for Condenser	16,869		$1,500		$1,500	$7,700	5.1	5.1
4.8	Gas-Fired Desiccant Dehumidifier	328,000	-31,000	$29,167	-$11,158	$18,009	$150,000	8.3	40.7
4.9	Install Dry-o-Tron Dehumidification System for the Pool		93,823		$33,769	$33,769	$358,000	10.6	178.5
4.10	Incorporate a Flood Water Purification System	39,644		$3,525		$3,525	$31,000	8.8	12.1
	SUB-TOTAL						$2,055,400	--	--
	Rebate: Enbridge Gas						-$19,071	--	--
	Total Estimated Savings	505,221	144,209	$75,439	$51,904	$127,343	$2,036,329	13.1	428.5
	Annual Baseline Utilities (at same rates as savings) **	2,054,915	284,114	$182,729	$102,258	$284,987	Energy Only 27.5%
	Percent Reduction	24.6%	50.8%	41.3%	50.8%	44.7%	Energy Only 27.5%

	Greenhouse Gas Emissions Summary	Electricity	Gas			Total	% Reduction
	CO2 Baseline (tonnes)	625	540			1,165
	CO2 Reduction (tonnes)	95.2	333.3			428.5	36.8%

* Calculations for GHG Emission Reduction for the Green Roof is based upon electricity reduction only and does not include CO2 displaced by vegetation

** Annual baseline utilities indicate how much energy used in an average year. The estimated cost of baseline utilities is calculated using the same method as in the RATES USED FOR CALCULATIONS SAVINGS SUMMARY (next page)

APPENDIX 1 con’t

RATES USED FOR CALCULATIONS IN

SAVINGS SUMMARY

The hydro rate used for the savings calculations is $0.089 per kWh. This rate is calculated using Metrix™ software. It is a blended rate that accounts for consumption, demand and non-competitive energy charges.

There is one exception. The savings for the Photovoltaic Roofing Systems are calculated at $0.42 per kWh as the Ontario Power Authority will purchase renewable electricity under Ontario’s Standard Offer Program at this rate for 20 years.

The natural gas rate used for the savings calculations is $0.360 per m3. This rate is also calculated using Metrix™ software. This rate accounts for commodity delivery and supply load charges.

It should be noted that these prices reflect current energy rates. Therefore, as the rates increase in the future, the payback period will decrease.

CO2 and green house gas emissions have been calculated in accordance to the Canadian GHG Challenge Registry Guide to Entity & Facility-Based Reporting - v. 5.0 - April 2007.

Retrofit cost estimates are based on current dollars. A factor has been included for contractor’s overhead and profit. As costs may vary depending on the site conditions, a 10% construction contingency should be included for budgeting for installation.

The calculations of the simple payback periods for the various technologies are based on a number of assumptions and should be considered as order of magnitude only. A thorough analysis of the selected technologies will be required to determine the actual payback periods.