District of Oak Bay

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 09, 2018                                                                                                          

Oak Bay Receives $668,069 in Federal Funding to Save Energy and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Municipality of Oak Bay is very pleased to announce that it has received a $668,069 grant under the Federal Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Program to help further reduce the District’s environmental footprint.  The  project involves the installation of an innovative heat transfer system aimed at capturing waste heat generated by the arena's refrigeration system (which is currently vented into the atmosphere) and using it to heat other areas within the Recreation Centre, including the tennis courts, aquatic facility, lounge area and fitness change rooms. The project is expected to reduce the facility's GHG emissions by 154.5 tonnes CO2 per year, which represents an 81.3% reduction for the Recreation Centre, and 14.2% reduction for the District of Oak Bay as a whole. In addition, natural gas savings of approximately 409 GJ/month will reduce facility operating costs by an estimated $34,000 per year.

As a signatory to the BC Climate Action Charter, Oak Bay committed in 2007 to reducing GHG emissions by 33% by 2020 - to date, the District has lowered emissions by 30.7%. This project will enable the municipality to exceed the 33% reduction target more than a year ahead of schedule.

Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen said, “We are very grateful to the Province of BC and the Government of Canada for supporting this important project. Oak Bay Council and residents are very interested in reducing greenhouse gases and our ecological footprint. This project will support these continued efforts. We are proud to be carbon neutral, but we are committed to doing even more. ”

“Improvements to local infrastructure are so important. They make our communities even better places to live,” said Selina Robinson, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We are pleased to partner with local governments and the federal government to improve the daily lives of British Columbians.”

Director Wendy Booth, President, Union of BC Municipalities stated, “Communities across BC are looking for funding to replace, upgrade and expand local infrastructure. The federal Gas Tax Fund is accelerating the pace of infrastructure renewal through the transfer of close to $3 billion since 2005 for projects in our province. I appreciate the Government of Canada’s long-term commitment to fund priorities identified by BC local governments.”

-30-

For media enquiries, please call:

Nils Jensen, Mayor
cell: 250 882-0549