Government of Canada and FCM invest in net zero Brampton facility
by CM staff
The upgrades are expected to reduce operating costs and carbon emissions by 91 per cent annually.
BRAMPTON — The Government of Canada, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are investing $10 million for retrofits to the Susan Fennell Sportsplex in Brampton, Ontario, through the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Buildings Retrofit (CBR) initiative.
The retrofits are expected to transform the nearly 30-year-old multi-purpose sportsplex into a zero-carbon facility. The project will electrify the facility’s gas-powered equipment, including boilers and ice resurfacers, install a geothermal system, as well as upgrade the ice rink refrigeration plants, air handling units, heat pumps, lighting, and other systems.
Through a combination of energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy measures and carbon offers, the city aims both to reduce this facility’s carbon footprint and create a model for other recreational facilities as part of its long-term goal towards Zero Carbon transition.
The upgrades are expected to reduce operating costs and carbon emissions by 91 per cent annually, with the remaining 9 per cent savings achieved through carbon offsets. The reductions equal about 550 cars taken off the road for one year, or 30,000 trees grown for 10 years.
These retrofits are funded by the Green Municipal Fund, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, through an endowment by the Government of Canada.
The Community Buildings Retrofit initiative is part of a $950 million federal investment in FCM’s Green Municipal Fund and is designed to scale up energy-efficiency and lower emissions across Canada.
“Investing in deep retrofits to reduce emissions and build more efficient infrastructure is a critical way we can fight climate change and support cleaner communities. These retrofits will result in significant cost savings for the municipality as well as providing a state-of-the-art net zero facility that residents and families can enjoy,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
