Funds to flow at the aquatic centre

City Council members authorized City Staff to submit an application to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund for energy upgrades to the City of North Bay's Aquatic Centre (located at the YMCA) during Council's Regular Monday Night Meeting.

If the funding application is approved, Council authorizes the use of $140,000 from the Memorial Gardens Rehabilitation Program and will proceed with the City's required contribution of $260,800 from the capital budget. The remaining $250,000 would come from the NOHFC.

The City of North Bay's Aquatic Centre consumes an average of 375,343 cubic metres of natural gas per year and 926,000 kilowatts of electricity per year. Energy to operate the Aquatic Centre has averaged approximately $240,000 annually. The high volumes of consumption mean that this facility is vulnerable to swings in energy prices. Large increases in price can impact the Aquatic Centre's operating viability. The YMCA and the City of North Bay are working to implement capital upgrades that will reduce energy consumption at the facility. The two organizations have recently developed a two year program to reduce energy consumption.

"What this means is some real changes at the Y", says Councillor Mike Anthony.

The City of North Bay is proposing to undertake the energy upgrades in a two-phase process. Phase one will be for a large Energy Recovery Ventilator, Solar Thermal Panels and a Solar Wall. These additions have the potential of cutting costs associated with natural gas consumption by approximately 49.5 percent. Phase two of the project will include a small heat recovery unit in the change room of the facility and variable speed drives on existing pumps in the pools. This will result in additional annual savings of $25,325.

"You're talking some major bucks" says Anthony.

"Taking into consideration that the city is doing its best with regards to implementing green additions and creating environmental initiatives, this is one more piece of that puzzle".

Should the NOFHC decide to not fund the application, Anthony says that the plans for the Aquatic Centre could be placed on hold and reviewed by the city in lieu of proper funding.