Greening of our City of Ottawa assets is well underway

There’s a saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The City of Ottawa has been doing just that by retrofitting many existing facilities and other assets to not only use less energy but also to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The work advances Energy Evolution, our community energy transition strategy and our goal to reduce 100% of GHG emissions from our operations by 2040.    Electric boilers instead of natural gas Electric boilers are more efficient than natural gas ones and present opportunities for emission reductions and the benefit of redundancy in our heating systems. These retrofits represent the largest GHG reductions from single projects. Facilities now equipped with electric boilers include:

• Walter Baker Sports Centre
• Nepean Sportsplex
• Mary Pitt Centre
• Ottawa City Hall
• Minto Recreation Complex
• OC Transpo’s 1500 St Laurent campus
  • This is the most recent installation with operations to start later this year

Changing out a gas-fired appliance for an electrical one does not necessarily result in cost savings because natural gas generally costs less than electricity, which has variable pricing based on a multitude of factors. But with some expert energy management by City engineers, we can secure a lower electricity rate for operational cost reductions. We are saving $85,000 annually in fuel costs. In our measurement of GHG emissions for five large electric boilers installed up to 2023, we realized a reduction of more than 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (a major component of greenhouse gas). This reduction is equal to the amount created by the electricity use of 669 homes for a full year (as calculated by Natural Resource Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).   Heat pumps replace furnaces Another strategy for reducing GHGs is the use of heat pumps. Heat pumps use electricity and are more efficient than furnaces because they transfer warm and cold air from the ground or outdoor air rather than having to generate it. They are a key technology in the transition to a zero-emission future.   As City furnaces are scheduled for renewal, our replacement standard now includes dual-fuel heat pumps, which means the pumps are coupled with natural gas-fired heating as a backup. This hybrid solution provides a substantial reduction in GHG emissions with the further benefit of adding cooling where it was not previously available. These retrofits have been completed at the Glebe Community Centre, Plant Recreation Centre, Borden Farm Child Care and the Huron Early Learning Centre.  At the Glebe Community Centre, pre-construction natural gas savings estimates were around 75%. The initial results are well aligned with that significant number. We were able to avoid practically all natural gas use when the outside temperature was down to -10 C and a sizable portion even down to -20 C. Natural gas use is less than half when compared to a similar device without the heat pump.   A window to the future Another change we’ve made to put building maintenance on a sustainable path is with our window replacement guidelines. When our windows reach their end of life, we now have the option of replacing them with a newer, superior product. These windows offer double the lifespan, are highly insulated and are made in Canada. Although the upfront cost is more, they reduce energy use and GHG emissions and are an investment for the long term. These windows were recently installed at the Hintonburg Community Centre and the Glebe Community Centre.    Sunshine in the forecast Looking to future upgrades that will advance the City’s transition to cleaner energy sources, we are set to install solar photovoltaic systems this year at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex, Charles Sim Municipal Garage and Ottawa City Hall. This builds on the existing 12 installations already in place on City facilities. The solar photovoltaic systems are expected to offset a significant portion of each facility’s electricity usage, in total reducing electricity costs by $160,000 and carbon dioxide emissions by 172 tons annually. This reduction is equal to the amount created by the electricity use of 115 homes for a full year. You can find out more about our approach to retrofitting City facilities in terms of:  •    reducing greenhouse gas emissions  •    energy conservation and demand management strategy and reporting   Transporting us to lower emissions  Almost half (44 per cent) of Ottawa’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, making it an area where change can have a significant impact. OC Transpo is doing its part to transition to a more green, clean and sustainable transit system.   OC Transpo currently has 18 zero-emission buses (ZEBs) in its fleet and plans to have 354 by the end of 2027. ZEBs offer lower noise pollution and reduced operating costs. The arrival of ZEBs also includes upgrades to the current structural and electrical infrastructure, as well as construction of a new garage. The electrification of OC Transpo’s fleet is an important part of the City’s Climate Change Master Plan.    The O-Train Extension project is also making great strides in providing green transportation options. Earlier this year Lines 2 and 4 opened, improving O-Train access for residents in the south of the city and helping to reduce congestion. The O-Train East Extension will expand Line 1 by 12.5 kilometres of rail, while the O-Train West Extension will add another 15 kilometres, easing congestion by reducing the number of buses on our roads. The O-Train Extension Project is also adding approximately $20 million in infrastructure to the City of Ottawa’s pedestrian and cycling network, providing critical connections and fully accessible pathways to our new O-Train stations. This means more multi-use pathways, cycle-tracks, pedestrian bridges and bike parking across Ottawa.     A cleaner, greener city In addition to ongoing efforts to retrofit our facilities, the City’s commitment to a 100% reduction of GHG emissions from operations by 2040 extends to all areas of City business. In just the last few years, we have undertaken a number of important initiatives, including: •    Green Fleet strategy for City vehicles •    Landfill gas utilization and renewable natural gas strategy •    Investments in transit and active transportation infrastructure •    Tree planting Taken together, the City is taking action to accomplish our GHG reduction targets. Interested to learn about ongoing facility retrofits and energy management at the City of Ottawa? Sign up for our Climate Change newsletter. Quotes “The City of Ottawa is committed to smart green building practices that are future-focused. Even as the broader policy landscape shifts and incentives remain uncertain, we’re staying the course. These projects reflect our responsibility to taxpayers and our environment, and they lay the foundation for long-term energy solutions that will help us reach our goal of eliminating GHG emissions from City operations by 2040.” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe “Meeting the City’s greenhouse gas reduction targets requires retrofits of all kinds, including transitioning municipal buildings away from fossil fuel heating systems and towards heat pumps. These infrastructure projects add to our in-house expertise, save energy and money over time and contribute to a more climate-safe Ottawa for all.” Councillor Shawn Menard, Chair, Environment and Climate Change Committee