Report to: General Committee Report
Date:
SUBJECT: Grant Application to Municipal Eco-Challenge Fund
PREPARED BY: Viive Sawler, Manager,
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Report titled, “Grant Application to the Municipal Eco-Challenge Fund”, be received.
That Council
support the grant application being made to the Ontario Ministry of
That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Municipal Eco Challenge Fund (MECF) is a $20-million grant program designed to help municipalities undertake infrastructure projects that will conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The fund is split into two application streams: 1) audit/feasibility studies and retrofit projects, and 2) showcase/demonstration retrofit projects. This grant application would be filed with the intent to obtain funding support to carry out energy audits at four Town facilities – Thornhill Community Centre, Angus Glen Community Centre, Markham Village Arena and Mt. Joy Community Centre. The application will request 100% of the estimated costs of each audit. The cost per audit is not to exceed $10,000 so the total requested funding will be approximately $40,000.
1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial 5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Report is to obtain Council support for the MECF application that if successful would provide the Town with funding support to carry out one or more energy audits.
BACKGROUND:
MECO continues to lead, develop and deliver a number of Conservation and Demand Management (CDM) programs. In partnership with Recreation and Asset Management, MECO helped to facilitate the implementation of various energy retrofit measures at the Milliken Mills Community Centre that are estimated to save approximately 276,000 kWh annually in electricity and 130,600 m3 in gas. This translates into approximately a 251 tonne reduction in GHGs and a cost savings of approximately $77,000 per year.
If the MECF grant application is successful, the Town will be able to conduct energy audits thus identifying energy and cost savings for the Town. Further grants are then available to assist in implementing identified retrofit opportunities through MECF as well as other organizations such as the Ontario Power Authority, PowerStream and Enbridge. The Town could also apply for funding from the Ontario Solar Thermal Heating Incentive (OSTHI) should the audit report recommend solar thermal opportunities, similar to the project implemented at Milliken Mills in which the Town successfully secured a grant of $11,750.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
This initiative would support the Town’s strategic priority of “environment” as the purpose of the funding would be to conduct further energy audits in order to determine where further energy savings can be achieved.
DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
Recreation
RECOMMENDED
BY: ________________________ ________________________
Viive Sawler, Manager Brenda Librecz, Commissioner
Conservation Office (MECO) Commission