The City of Delta has received funding to find ways to make some of its buildings even greener.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities last week announced more than $900,000 in funding through its Green Municipal Fund, provided by the federal government, has been secured to advance transit access and enhance sustainability at public facilities in Metro Vancouver, Nanaimo, Delta, Port Moody, Powell River and Kelowna.
Delta will receive $200,000 to study methods to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at various recreational and public buildings that produce the highest amount of carbon in their communities.
Through the program, the FCM will provide a study grant for up to 80 per cent of eligible costs, up to $65,000 for a single building and up to $200,000 for a portfolio of buildings.
A Delta staff report also notes that many successful retrofits of Delta’s buildings and measures implemented over the years within the city’s fleet resulted in the achievement of a 20 per cent reduction in GHG emissions from 2007 levels.
However, more needs to be done to continue to improve energy efficiency and further reduce GHGs within Delta’s facilities, the report notes.
The buildings targeted for studies include the South Delta Recreation Centre, Ladner Leisure Centre, Sungod Recreation Centre, North Delta Recreation Centre and Tilbury Arena.
“These buildings represent some of Delta’s largest facilities and account for approximately 2,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to just over 60 per cent of the emissions for all Delta owned buildings. The Winskill Aquatic Centre is also a large facility and significant source of GHG emissions. As part of the Winskill redevelopment project there will be an opportunity to identify and implement substantial measures to reduce GHG emissions from this facility so it has not been included in this proposal,” the report notes.
The completion of feasibility studies is a prerequisite to submit an application to an FCM GHG reduction pathway retrofit capital projects funding stream which provides up to 25 per cent funding to a maximum of $5 million per project, with no limit on the number of projects eligible for funding.
