The Community Energy Centre was designed and constructed to the LEED® Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard. Stantec Engineering is submitting the application on behalf of the Energy Centre and Leeds Certification's completion is imminent.

What it is: 
A community energy system delivers hot water from a central source through insulated underground pipes to heat buildings. Natural gas is used as the fuel to heat the water.
The Strathcona Community Energy Centre is a 305 square metre (3,300 sq.ft.) building where the boilers and other system equipment are located.

How the system works:
From the Energy Centre, hot water is delivered through underground pipes to heat buildings from one source. Each building connected to the system receives the energy through an energy transfer station technically known as a plate heat exchanger.

Buildings served by the Community Energy System:

• Strathcona County Hall
• Festival Place
• The Kinsmen Leisure Centre (pool), arena and recreation office
• Buildings being constructed by Christenson Developments in Centre in the Park
• In future, it will be possible for other buildings to be connected to the system.

The benefits of community energy systems:

• Community energy systems reduce the amount of air pollutants and greenhouse gases
• A centralized system allows for efficient production and distribution of energy
• Customers receive a competitively priced energy service, individual boilers are eliminated, and new technologies can be adopted
• Healthier buildings
• Continued progress toward a sustainable community
• Flexibility to adapt to changing energy opportunities and future customer connections

The benefits for Strathcona County:

• It's better for the environment. The highly efficient system has reduced greenhouse gasses by 1,000 tonnes compared with a conventional system.
• It's more efficient. The boilers in the Energy Centre are high-efficiency units that use the latest technology.
• The total number of boilers is also reduced, with central boilers replacing individual ones in each building on the system.
• Savings in energy and long-term cost. Strathcona County is committed to using energy wisely and building a sustainable community.
• Taxpayers also benefit. Strathcona County operates the Community Energy System as a utility. This means all costs is paid by user fees. No tax dollars are required to build or operate the system.
• The building was designed Architecturally to match the Centre in the Park
• Attractive landscaping - no trees removed for the building's construction
• There is the potential to add solar panels

Further information: 449-5514