Case study: Retrofitting three community facilities for shared heating
How Abbotsford, B.C.’s recreation centre’s Heat Recovery & Optimization (HeRO) project is reducing emissions and boosting accessibility
Project Duration: -
MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS
Retrofit of recreational or cultural facility
British Columbia
Expected results
$75,000
per year in operational cost savings
41%
in energy savings annually
455 tCO2e
reduction in annual GHG emissions
Summary
This case study from Abbotsford, B.C., demonstrates how a heat recovery system can boost energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sharing heat among three facilities within one recreation complex. This innovative approach will lead to significant operational cost savings for the City and improve comfort for building users. This retrofit project is also being used as an opportunity to enhance building accessibility and promote equitable use of the centre.
Background and challenges
The Abbotsford Recreation Centre is a large civic centre in the City of Abbotsford, B.C., that includes three main functional facilities within one building: an aquatic centre built in the 1970s, an ice arena added in the 1990s and a community centre that was completed in the late 2000s.
Like many municipalities, Abbotsford is dealing with aging infrastructure and facilities that have been expanded over time, resulting in operational inefficiencies across building systems. These expansions have led to many cases of having different building standards, life cycles and mechanical systems within a single building. In the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, for example, each facility has a separate heating system. The building is a high energy consumer and a significant contributor to the city’s GHG emissions, which is why it was prioritized for retrofit.
The goal of this retrofit project is to interconnect all mechanical systems in the Abbotsford Recreation Centre in order to efficiently share thermal (heat) energy throughout the centre, thereby reducing operational costs, energy consumption and GHG emissions.
The project budget is approximately $10 million, of which $4.45 million was secured through funding from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program and $4.2 million through B.C.’s Growing Communities Fund. Another $1.2 million was provided by the City.
Are you looking for financial support to retrofit your community buildings?
Explore GMF's Community Buildings Retrofit initiative to access financial support and resources for your retrofit projects. Funding opportunities include:
Study: GHG reduction pathway feasibility
Assess the feasibility of projects that extend asset life, lower ownership costs and reduce energy use and GHG emissions for recreational and cultural facilities.
Capital project: GHG impact retrofit
Retrofit a local recreational or cultural facility to directly reduce emissions with support from capital project funding.
Capital project: GHG reduction pathway retrofit
Use an outcomes-driven approach to retrofit a single facility or multiple facilities, aiming for near–net zero carbon buildings over time, financed through capital project funding.
Timeline
Project design began in fall 2023, during which accessibility upgrades, including wheelchair pool lifts, were completed. The design phase will be completed by late 2024, with construction beginning in early 2025. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.
Approach
Six stages of work will reduce GHG emissions as much as possible. These are:
- Replacing the air handling unit for the aquatic centre.
- Installing a heat recovery chiller, adding a heat recovery coil to the aquatic centre’s air handling unit and replacing the pool’s heat exchangers.
- Connecting the aquatic centre to the arena ice plant.
- Connecting the aquatic centre to other air handling units in the building.
- Integrating the aquatic centre with the rest of the Recreation Centre for unified energy management.
- Adding heat recovery systems to capture and reuse heat from the ice arena’s cooling loop.
Expected results
- 70 percent reduction in demand for natural gas
- $75,000 annual reduction in operational costs
- 41 percent annual energy savings
- 455 tCO2e reduction in annual GHG emissions
- improved air quality in the aquatic centre
- accessibility improvements: two new wheelchair pool lifts are helping individuals with mobility challenges navigate spaces independently and safely
Challenges addressed
The City’s project team understood that to successfully deliver such a complex project, it would be crucial to utilize a collaborative delivery model. The City engaged an owner’s advisor, a consultant who provides direction and guidance on overall project management and approach, to help select consultants and contractors with experience in this type of project delivery. As part of its early contractor engagement approach, the City hired a construction manager early in the process so that they could contribute their expertise to the design phase, providing feedback to the design consultant to avoid potential construction pitfalls or complications and help keep costs in check.
The initial cost estimate in 2020 was around $5.9 million. However, this figure doubled by 2023 due to supply chain disruptions related to COVID-19 and limited capacity in the trade industry. Fortunately, the project had a secured grant that initially covered about 80 percent of the budget, although this amount is now only enough to cover 50 percent of the updated project costs. Despite these challenges, the City remains committed to the project, recognizing the benefits of operational cost savings, energy efficiency, enhanced accessibility, improved comfort and an overall better user experience. Additionally, the City adopted a corporate Green Buildings Policy in 2022, and this retrofit project aligns well with the goals of the policy and is the first major retrofit project to fall under the policy requirements.
Next steps
Once the retrofit project is complete, the City plans to:
- Monitor energy use and operational energy expenses.
- Track GHG emissions reductions.
- Track patron thermal comfort and experience.
- Share its experience in collaborative project delivery model and project outcomes with other local governments.
Featured resources
Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Retrofit existing community buildings to lower GHG emissions and extend their life cycle.
Read moreCaledon’s Corporate Energy Revolving Fund is sustaining itself
How one Ontario town is simultaneously conserving energy and saving money
Read moreFactsheets: Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
How to retrofit existing community buildings to lower GHG emissions and extend their life cycle.
Read moreWant to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
Related Resources
See All
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Waste
Municipal and community buildings
Waste
Accelerating the transition to a circular economy: Material reuse for a net-zero future
Learn how circular construction reduces waste, lowers emissions and saves costs while strengthening communities and combating climate impact. Discover CERIEC’s solutions today.
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Municipal and community buildings
Factsheet: Planning for climate-resilient infrastructure
Learn about how investing in climate-resilient infrastructure can protect lives, ensure continuity of essential services and save costs by mitigating the impacts of climate-related challenges.
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Land Use
Municipal and community buildings
Land Use
Factsheets: Working with nature to improve infrastructure project outcomes
Learn how you can integrate nature-based solutions into your community’s infrastructure project planning
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Webinar recording: How housing providers can help residents during energy retrofits
Watch the discussion on how to take advantage of the Housing Providers’ Toolkit.
Webinar recording
Local energy generation
Energy
Local energy generation
Energy
Webinar recording: New GMF funding and support to accelerate community energy systems
Watch our webinar to explore GMF’s new funded learning offer: Accelerating Community Energy Systems. Discover best practices, funding insights and strategies for your municipality.
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Aspen Heights: Redefining affordable housing in Saskatoon
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Heartland Housing Foundation: Building a sustainable future in Fort Saskatchewan
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Building a better future: CABN’s net-zero affordable housing pilot
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Pine Tree Park: Transforming affordable housing with energy efficiency and solar power
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Rossland Yards: Transforming affordable housing in Rossland, BC
Case Study
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
YWCA Banff: Building stability and community through affordable housing
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Transforming communities with Sustainable Affordable Housing: Article series
In a series of six articles, we highlight impactful projects funded by GMF's Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative, demonstrating how energy-efficient, community-centered housing can foster resilience and well-being.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Guide: Equity and non-energy benefits of community building retrofits
Explore the equity and other non-energy benefits of retrofitting community buildings.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Accelerate your community’s net-zero transformation with new GMF funding
Watch our webinar to discover how GMF’s new funding can help you upgrade infrastructure and reduce local GHG emissions.
Webinar recording
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: The real impact of home-energy efficiency financing
Watch our webinar to discover how you can achieve your climate goals by implementing a home-energy efficiency financing program in your community
Webinar recording
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Webinar recording: Transform your approach to energy efficiency with the Housing Providers’ Toolkit
Watch the discussion on how to take advantage of the Housing Providers’ Toolkit.
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Guide: Taking your indoor swimming pool to net zero
A guide with key measures and lessons learned to help you build a plan for net-zero indoor swimming pools.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: How to start reducing GHG emissions in community buildings
Watch the discussion on how to create a GHG reduction pathway for community buildings.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to get a project started, tips for small francophone communities
If you’re a small francophone municipality looking to develop sustainability projects and access funding, watch this webinar to learn how others overcame common challenges.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Factsheets: Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Learn how to retrofit existing community buildings to lower GHG emissions and extend their life cycle.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar Recording: Enhance comfort and energy savings with municipal building envelopes
Watch this webinar to explore strategies for optimizing municipal building envelopes, enhancing both comfort and energy efficiency.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Energy efficiency for reaching net zero
Learn how municipalities can advance energy efficiency initiatives to reach net-zero targets.
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: Planning for net-zero emissions
Municipal leaders and experts discuss strategies for achieving net-zero emissions targets and scaling up climate action efforts at the local level.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Durham Region, ON launches novel financing model
A video showcasing innovative and accessible financing options for home-energy upgrades.
Video
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Video: Retrofitting community buildings for maximum GHG reduction impact
A short video explaining the pathway approach of retrofitting a building - using an outcomes-oriented approach - to achieve (near) net zero carbon buildings over time.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Community Buildings Retrofit Advisory Service
The CBR Advisory Service is a new service that is intended to help smaller municipalities by matching them to industry leaders who understand best practices in the CBR field and can help provide personalized coaching and advice, including clarified goals, insights, and replicable results.
Guide
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community Efficiency Financing market guide
Guide to help Canadian municipalities assess potential home energy upgrade programs
Webinar recording
Local energy generation
Energy
Local energy generation
Energy
Webinar recording: An introduction to district energy
Learn how a centralized heating and cooling system can help your municipality reduce GHG emissions and save money.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Supporting small and medium municipalities through the Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Watch this webinar recording to learn about successful examples of completed retrofits, how municipalities can choose the right funding options and to answer any questions about the funding process.
Guide
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Guide: Taking your indoor ice rink to net zero
A practical guide to get you started on your own net zero retrofit plan and to help you develop an actionable roadmap to net zero ice rinks.
Guide
Municipal fleet electrification
Transportation
Municipal fleet electrification
Transportation
Priority Municipal Actions to Enable Zero Emission Vehicle Adoption
GMF and Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) collaborated to create six priority municipal actions to accelerate zero emission vehicle adoption.
Guide
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Understanding energy efficiency: A guide for affordable housing providers
This guide is for affordable housing providers, such as municipalities or housing cooperatives, interested in improving energy efficiency in their buildings.
Webinar recording
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar: Transitioning ice rinks to net-zero
Learn the basics of building retrofits for facility buildings
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Resource library: Community Buildings Retrofit
Find practical case studies and guidance for planning your local community building retrofit.
Webinar recording
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: Introduction to local home-energy financing programs
Learn the basics on delivering local financing programs for home-energy upgrades.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Saskatoon delivers Saskatchewan’s first local home-energy financing program
Learn how the City of Saskatoon designed its Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) to help residents retrofit their homes and reduce GHG emissions.
Tool
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Resources: Community Efficiency Financing
Read guidebooks and case studies to see how municipalities are designing home upgrade financing programs.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Kingston supports homeowners with financing program for energy upgrades
Hear from Julie Salter-Keane, Manager of Climate Leadership at the City of Kingston, as she discusses the City’s program implementation and their approach to designing a strong local program.
Guide
Energy
Energy
Factsheet: Governance components for deep decarbonization
This factsheet introduces senior municipal leaders to key components of a good governance structure for deep emissions reductions and implementation actions.
Guide
Energy
Energy
Factsheet: Governance strategies for deep decarbonization
This factsheet provides senior municipal leaders with governance strategies for achieving deep emissions reductions in each decarbonization pathway.
Guide
Energy
Energy
Factsheet: Municipal governance for deep decarbonization
This factsheet provides senior municipal leaders with the pathways and steps for achieving deep decarbonization and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Tool
Energy
Energy
Climate Action Accelerator for Community Buildings
Is your municipality looking to drive climate action by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in municipally-owned buildings, but is unsure how to maximize time and impact, secure funding and partnerships, or how to get started? FCM’s Climate Action Accelerator for Community Buildings will help up to 20 small and mid-sized municipalities take climate action within their building portfolios.
Video
Energy
Energy
Video: Tips from Iqualuit’s LEED Silver aquatic centre
In this video, you will learn the key elements and lessons learned that helped Iqaluit succeed on building its energy efficient aquatic centre.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: New municipal financing program removes barriers to energy-efficiency upgrades for homeowners
Marie-Pierre Paquette discusses how the municipalities of Plessisville, Varennes and Verchères banded together to launch a joint pilot project that would bring energy-efficient home renovations within reach for more homeowners.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: Introduction to home energy upgrade programs
Watch this video to learn more about home energy upgrade programs and how they can help municipalities to tackle climate change, save money, and invest in the local economy.
Video
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Video: New municipal financing program removes barriers to energy-efficiency upgrades for homeowners
Marie-Pierre Paquette discusses how the municipalities of Plessisville, Varennes and Verchères banded together to launch a joint pilot project that would bring energy-efficient home renovations within reach for more homeowners.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Take your project from study to capital
Watch this webinar recording and discover how others have successfully converted studies into a capital project that provides social, economic and environmental benefits.
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: How to adapt green municipal projects to stand the test of time
Watch this webinar recording and explore how to build and adapt projects to make them truly sustainable in the long term.
Webinar recording
Energy
Energy
Webinar recording: The 5 keys to a green municipal project business case
Watch this webinar recording and discover the five critical focus areas you need to address to get your project started, from financing and partnerships to integrating a triple-bottom-line approach.
Video
Energy
Energy
Introducing GMF’s Community Buildings Retrofit initiative
Discover how GMF can support your community building retrofits, from funding for energy monitoring, building commissioning, studies and capital projects to capacity-building activities and resources.
Report
Energy
Energy
Article series: Meet LC3’s climate leaders
Read our article series to get to know the leaders of the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network, and learn how they are advancing effective ways to address climate change in big cities.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
GMF’s Municipal Energy Roadmap
Solutions for Canadian communities to achieve significant GHG emissions reductions in buildings and meet long-term sustainability objectives.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Primer for elected officials: Municipal Energy Roadmap
This primer for elected officials outlines how the Municipal Energy Roadmap can help choose the right energy-related solutions for your buildings.
Tool
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Regional Energy Coaches
Regional Energy Coaches help affordable housing providers plan energy efficiency retrofits and new builds.
Tool
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Factsheets: Municipal Energy Roadmap
These factsheets offer specific guidance around building-level solutions, community-level solutions, and long-term strategies to help you drill down and meet your objectives.
Webinar recording
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: How to create an efficiency financing program for your community
An overview of the funding options, eligibility and application details of GMF’s Community Efficiency Financing program.
Tool
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Factsheets: Community Efficiency Financing
Learn how to design, deliver and market a home upgrade financing program for your community.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recordings: Best practices in municipal sustainability
How are cities and communities of all sizes tackling their environmental challenges? Find out from our five-part webinar series on innovations and opportunities in municipal energy, waste, water, transportation and land use initiatives.
Tool
Energy
Energy
Tool for municipal clean energy program development: Use the Energy Poverty and Equity Explorer to reduce energy poverty and greenhouse gases
The Energy Poverty and Equity Explorer tool, developed by Canadian Urban Sustainability Practitioners (CUSP), offers municipalities access to relevant data so they can better understand energy poverty, and other equity and affordability challenges in their communities.
Webinar recording
Energy | Housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to prepare a GMF capital project application
Need advice for preparing your GMF capital project funding application? Watch our webinar recording to hear tips from our staff and find out what reviewers are looking for.
Related Projects
See All
Municipal and community buildings
Energy