The RDN is hoping to land a grant to help pay for significant energy-reducing upgrades at Oceanside Place in Parksville. (Megan Gibson)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

green project

Regional District eyeing ways to make Oceanside Place greener

Apr 28, 2022 | 5:29 AM

PARKSVILLE — Oceanside Place is a high greenhouse gas emitter and the Regional District of Nanaimo wants to do something about it.

The RDN board signed off on a grant application this week in hopes of having nearly three-quarters of $720,000 worth of energy retrofits covered by a joint provincial and federal grant.

An RDN staff report showed intended energy conservation measures at the facility include using waste heat from the arena’s refrigeration plant to provide heating for other areas of the building.

A dehumidifier at the end of its useful life would also be replaced with a high efficiency unit.

Integrating the building’s air handling units into an energy recovery loop would also be done.

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“The energy recovery measures proposed will reduce annual natural gas usage by 90 per cent (a year) and reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent a year,” the report stated.

If the bid is successful, the RDN would be required to provide $720,000 up front and would then be reimbursed with 73 per cent of the capital expenses, leaving an end cost of $194,000.

In January, the governments of Canada and B.C. announced the latest round of CleanBC Communities funding. The current intake supports projects beginning in 2023.

Oceanside Place produces 278 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, representing the second highest greenhouse gas emitter of all RDN buildings.

The facility, home to a pair of ice sheets, leisure pond and meeting rooms, is owned and operated by the RDN.

Oceanside Place opened in 2003.

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