City’s first renewable district heating system - January 14, 2010
The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), Margaret MacDiarmid, MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, and Marvin Hunt, Surrey City Councillor and member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ National Board of Directors, today ‘flipped the switch’ on the City’s first renewable district heating system. The $30 million system, which uses energy created from wastewater, will heat the Olympic Village and keep 2,800 athletes and officials warm during the 2010 Winter Games.
The Neighbourhood Energy Utility (NEU) will provide heat and hot water to all buildings in Southeast False Creek, including the Olympic Village. It marks the first time in North America that heat recovered from untreated wastewater is being used in an urban centre and as the primary source of energy. This green technology will be supplemented by solar hot water.
“By using a renewable resource to create heat, we’re making progress on our goal of becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020,” said Mayor Robertson.
The Government of Canada invested $9.47 million in the project through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities invested $5 million through the Green Municipal Fund. The City is supplying the remainder.
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