Things are heating up at the Callander Bay Heritage Museum. Councillors and municipal staff are looking into replacing the current boiler and hot water system. It’s estimated to cost around $11,000, and the money will come from the 2023 budget, which has a budget line of $14,000.
It was back in 1985 when the current boiler was installed. The 150 thousand btu unit spreads heat through the building and is the primary source of warmth throughout the historic section of the museum. The unit’s manufacturer suggested a 25-year lifespan, but the municipality was able to get an extra 13 years from it.
However, staff have a hunch that the 38-year-old dynamo isn’t as efficient as it once was, especially back in those halcyon days that were the late 80s. The gas consumption is also on the rise these past years. The building was built in 1904, so the insulation isn’t up to today’s standards, and since it is a historic building, adding more is very difficult.
Hence the need for an efficient boiler. The new one will also provide hot water, so the old gas water heater is also heading out the door. Staff estimate that by replacing both units, the municipality could see a 25 to 30 per cent reduction in heating costs.
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Staff have eyes on a Navien NCB-240, a unit rated at 95 per cent efficiency. That estimated $11,000 would include the unit, the installation, and the removal and disposal of the old unit from the museum’s basement. The hot water heater will also be hauled out.
In 2020, the museum’s annual gas bill was $2,578. In 2023, that bill is already at $4,468, so any savings from an efficient unit will be much appreciated.
The cost of the new boiler could pay for itself in about 10 years, staff highlighted. The work will be completed this fall.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
