2004 Community Excellence Awards

2011 COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS Category Worksheet

BEST PRACTICES, General

______

Name of Local Government:

Capital Regional District (CRD)

Project/Program Title:

Saanich Peninsula Thermal Energy Recovery Project

Project Summary Paragraph:

Using heat recovery technology, the CRD Saanich Peninsula Thermal Energy Recovery system captures renewable energy from wastewater effluent to provide hot water and space heating. The project is an effective way of turning municipal wastewater into a productive energy source for the capital region.

The energy recovery and conveyance system was constructed at the Saanich Peninsula wastewater treatment plant in 2010-11 and represents an exciting chapter in integrated resource management on southern Vancouver Island. The recovered energy is currently being used to supplement heating requirements at the nearby Panorama Recreation Centre through a district energy system and has the ability to be expanded in the future for other uses.

This project exemplifies triple bottom line excellence: it reduces both corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions, stimulates the green economy, and serves as a new benchmark for local government service delivery.

Project Analysis

1. SERVICES

How has the implementation of this program/project improved services in your community?

This project was the first of its kind in the region and serves as a model for other wastewater treatment facilities. It uses an untapped renewable energy resource to heat a community recreation centre – providing a direct benefit to the taxpayers of the region. By displacing natural gas with a renewable energy source to heat the swimming pool, the CRD is able to reduce long-term operating costs, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and increase its energy resilience.

2. EFFECTIVENESS 2011 UBCM Community Excellence Awards

How is the program/project more efficient and/or effective than it was before?

The Saanich Peninsula wastewater treatment plant serves North Saanich, Central Saanich and the Town of Sidney as well as the Victoria International Airport, the Institute of Ocean Sciences and the Tseycum and Pauquachin First Nations communities.

Typically, effluent from wastewater treatment plants is discharged into receiving streams with little benefits to the environment. This project captures the thermal energy from the effluent and applies it to a building system with year-round heating demands.

This project is also more efficient in that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 560 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Co2e) per year by displacing the use of natural gas. This is the equivalent of removing 100 average passenger vehicles off the road each year.

3. ECONOMIC IMPACT

How has the program/project saved the community money and/or resources or encouraged economic development?

In terms of immediate economic benefits, it is estimated that this system will replace approximately $112,000 worth of natural gas costs annually at the Panorama Recreation Centre. From a regional perspective, implementation of this renewable energy source program will provide a net savings of approximately $77,000 per year and also contribute to reducing the CRD’s corporate carbon liability associated with its services.

From a long-term economic development perspective, this is only the first phase of heat recovery at the Saanich Peninsula wastewater treatment plant. The CRD is currently discussing partnership opportunities to connect the district energy system with other potential users. By expanding this heating system to other private, public and government customers, the CRD is helping to stimulate economic development in the area and nurture a growing green economy.

4. ACCOUNTABILITY

How has this program/project improved upon accountability to the community's citizens?

Providing cost-effective and efficient services that serve public interests and help to create a livable, sustainable region is a part of the CRD’s mission. This project demonstrates the municipal and regional support for new technologies that make best use of taxpayer’s investments. From an infrastructure perspective, the new system has been designed to handle a future doubling of heat recovery capacity.

The CRD is also a signatory of the BC Climate Action Charter. This project sends a strong signal to citizens and other local governments of its commitment to reduce energy and emissions associated with corporate services such as wastewater treatment and recreation centre operations. It demonstrates accountability in fulfilling an obligation that will help British Columbia act as a national leader in climate action.

5. AWARENESS

2 2011 UBCM Community Excellence Awards

How has this program/project created more awareness in the community about local government actions?

This project has been profiled in a number of ways including traditional print brochures, on the CRD’s website and through social media platforms such as Facebook. The climate-related benefits were showcased in the CRD’s 2010 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) report which was submitted to the province and distributed to local environmental organizations in January 2012.

But perhaps a more innovative way to communicate and celebrate the successful completion of this project was a free public swim event that was held on June 24, 2011. Information on the heat recovery system along with maps and drawings were used to educate the public and highlight the triple bottom line benefits of the new system.

Tours of the system have been held with dignitaries from all levels of government and the system was recently showcased as a part of the 2011 BC Waste Water Association Annual Conference. Over 7,000 industry professionals from the water and wastewater industries along with municipal staff have learned from the CRD experiences in developing the project.

Ultimately, the Thermal Energy Recovery system is a physical manifestation of the CRD’s commitment to best practices through its services. By using this as a demonstration project – locally, provincially and nationally – this project will help to encourage other innovative uses of wastewater resources.

6. TEAMWORK

Tell us about the teamwork involved in making this program/project possible.

This project was made possible through the vision and foresight of three member municipalities: North Saanich, Central Saanich and the Town of Sidney. It required a robust triple bottom line analysis and business case and a long term commitment from the CRD and its three municipalities to complete the project.

The CRD used an integrated approach to design, construct and bring the heat recovery system to operation relying on professionals from a variety of backgrounds, including local contractors, consultants and in-house staff.

Support from UBCM, the Province of BC and the federal government were also critical to its success. With an overall cost of 3.3 million dollars, the project took advantage of available programs to support sustainable infrastructure in the capital region. Of the total cost, $2.98 million in funding was provided through the Gas Tax Agreement Innovations Fund and the balance was borrowed from the Saanich Penninula Wastewater System Sewer Debt Reserve Fund.

7. INNOVATION What makes this program/project innovative and creative?

Wastewater effluent is a source of renewable energy. By capturing thermal energy and using it as a resource in the Panorama Recreation Centre the CRD is applying innovative and creative technologies to traditional wastewater treatment services.

The project is based on a district energy system. Typically, a district energy system has a central plant, which generates and supplies energy to various users via an energy conveying loop system. In this case, the thermal energy is extracted from the wastewater treatment plant treated effluent. From there, thermal heat is transferred to a potable water loop called a district energy supply line (DES).

At Panorama Recreation Centre the heat in the DES loop is drawn out of the water by a heat pump system which elevates it to a suitable temperature and delivers it to the pool heat system for use.

8. SUSTAINABILITY

What measures have you put in place to ensure the continued operation of this initiative? (e.g. staff time, resources, financial)

By re-investing the revenues generated from the sale of waste heat, the CRD will ensure the continued operations and growth of this initiative. The CRD has also committed to providing staff support now and in the future to expand the heat recovery process.

From a corporate energy perspective, investments in the heat recovery system are a part of the CRD’s efforts to be a leader in climate action and becoming carbon neutral in our operations starting in 2012. The CRD plans to continue to promote energy efficiency through its policies, programs, and infrastructure – including the Saanich Peninsula Thermal Energy Recovery system -- across all of its corporate operations.

Now that the first phase of the system is running, the CRD will continue to provide training and development to wastewater system operators in order to expand the collective knowledge and skills of employees related to renewable energy generation and heat recovery.

Recently, a business case analysis was completed in partnership with the Centre for Plant Health for use of the waste heat in their greenhouses. By taking full advantage of this available resource, the CRD will be able to ensure financial and environmental sustainability for years to come.

9. BEST PRACTICES

What sets this program/project apart as a winning idea? Why should it be considered a best practice, in comparison to other similar programs?

Recovering heat from wastewater is a viable option for reducing long-term energy costs and building a green economy. By providing a renewable energy heat source for buildings, such as this project does, communities can reduce their vulnerability to increasing energy costs and integrate new approaches to resource management.

The United Nations defines green jobs as “work that contributes substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality.” By implementing the Saanich Peninsula Thermal Energy Recovery system, the CRD is helping to create green jobs and nurture an emerging low-carbon economy not only on the Island but across the province.

BC municipalities and regional governments have set ambitious corporate and community greenhouse gas reduction targets. Engaging in innovative technologies such as these will help to achieve these goals and demonstrate leadership to citizens over the coming years.

10. TRANSFERABILITY

How is this program/project transferable to other local governments?

Most municipalities/regional districts in BC have wastewater treatment facilities. The thermal energy potential is an untapped recoverable, renewable resource in many communities. With rising energy prices and demand for local government investments to provide economic, environmental and social benefits, projects like the Saanich Peninsula Thermal Energy Recovery system demonstrate a viable and effective way to deliver services.

This project has given CRD staff the knowledge base for implementing other district energy systems and heat recovery programs in other parts of the region. The CRD continues to work with municipal partners across the region and around the province to share the lessons, knowledge and experiences from this project.

11. KNOWLEDGE SHARING

What helpful advice would you share with other communities looking to embark on a similar project?

Municipalities across the province are dealing with a number of challenges. Rising energy costs, aging infrastructure and increased emphasis on a triple bottom line approach to services are just a few of these challenges.

Municipalities and regional governments should consider district energy heat recovery projects such as this as a part of their annual business and budget planning and look for opportunities when undertaking capital investments in wastewater treatment infrastructure.

By taking an integrated approach to service delivery and identifying technologies that will improve efficiency and save money in the long term, local governments will benefit now and in the future.

12. TELL US MORE

Please share any other information you think may help us better understand your submission.

This project focuses on reducing risks, improving environmental stewardship and providing innovative service delivery to local governments. Future expansions and use of renewable thermal energy from wastewater effluent will undoubtedly benefit the entire capital region in its vision to create livable, vibrant and healthy communities.