Media Release (Nov. 4, 2019) Efforts made by Town Council and staff to investigate new opportunities for energy conservation has not only helped the Town reduce its carbon footprint but also increase annual utility savings.

“By leveraging opportunities for energy efficiency through facility upgrades, we will be making the best use of our existing infrastructure. It’s initiatives like these that help give not only Fort Erie but also the planet a more viable future,” said Mayor Wayne Redekop.

Since 2008, the Town of Fort Erie has received over $130,000 in grants from the Ontario Power Authority for facility upgrades. To acquire these grants, the Town invested over $450,000 in projects directed at energy conservation and equipment upgrades.

“Over the past 10 years, actual annual utility costs in the Fort Erie arenas have only increased from $423,793 in 2008 to $425,593 in 2018, which is a budget increase of less than half of one per cent over a ten year period. Projects to replace lighting and HVAC units at the Leisureplex, condenser tower and refrigeration control upgrades have improved utility conservation at the arenas,” said Kelly Walsh, director, infrastructure services.

In addition to updates to Town facilities, the Town also converted its streetlighting to LED in 2016. Investments of $2.24 million paired with grant funding of approximately $231,000 have resulted in annual electricity savings of over $200,000. The streetlight conversion has also led to maintenance and operational savings as well as improved lighting throughout the streets of Fort Erie.

The Town of Fort Erie will continue to investigate new opportunities for energy conservation, renewable energy production and demand management participation. Annual consumption reports will be used to evaluate the impact of asset investments or to assess possible improvement locations. Both the consumption reports and the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan will continue to be updated as required by the Act.

For more information about the Town’s Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2019-2024, please review staff report IS-36-2019 or contact Sean Hutton, manager, parks and facilities, at shutton@forterie.ca or 905-871-1600, ext. 2430.

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