Upwards of $460,000 in federal government investment will go towards significant green infrastructure additions at the Kingston East Community Centre.
All in all, the facility will be adding 256 rooftop solar panels as well as 204 panels via carports in the building’s parking lot.
Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen says the installation takes a step towards Kingston’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050, and emphasized the importance of investment into community facilities like this.
“Funding will support the installation of a solar energy system which will allow the facility to improve its energy efficiency by over 82%,” Gerretsen said.
“Once complete this new energy system will provide residents in Kingston with access to a modern, stable and green community centre.”
Mayor Bryan Paterson, also on hand for the announcement, said that the community centre should set the standard for efficiency of any new buildings coming to the City of Kingston.
“It makes this a state of the art facility not only in the spaces that we can offer our community but in energy efficiency,” Paterson said.
“This building is really setting the mark and the standard for what city facilities will be in the future and I think it also sets the standard for our community as a whole.”
The new system will be able to generate 176 kW AC and 220.8 kW DC power, bringing the facility to nearly net zero emissions.
Manager of Facilities Construction Services Jeff Rempel said when the system is complete, the building will be 96% more efficient than the standard community centre, and the small amount of energy expected to be used is expected to be even lower than that of a typical residential family home.
He added that the city’s energy and asset management division is already seeking out green sources for the remaining electricity needed in order to officially achieve net zero.
“That small amount of electricity that we need that equates to that 2.8 tonnes a year of GHC measurements,” Remple said.
“That can be resolved if we find another source for that electricity.”
While supply chain issues have impacted the installation of the solar panels, Rempel said he expects construction to begin in the net few weeks with the system being fully operational this fall.
