Net-zero fire station planned for Port Stanley
The federal government recently announced plans to invest $3.7 million in the construction of a net-zero first station in Port Stanley.
The money will be spent through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund (GMF), and will see the construction of a new facility in the Municipality of Central Elgin. The building will be powered by solar panels exclusively, and will meet LEED v4 requirements for internal plumbing fixtures. The construction plan calls for as much as 95 percent of the construction waste to be diverted from landfills.
In addition, energy consumption will be reduced by 45 percent annually. As a result, the municipality expects to save nearly $12,500 in annual operating and maintenance costs.
The facility is very much in keeping with the municipality’s goal of reducing its overall energy consumption.
"After several years of careful planning, the municipality is excited to be breaking ground for a new fire station in Port Stanley,” said Mayor Sally Martyn. “The building's innovative net-zero energy, low-carbon design will serve the residents and businesses of this municipality for decades and will serve as a symbol of Central Elgin's commitment to protecting the environment."
Construction on the building began in early August.
The GMF is a $1-billion program that is funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Its aim is to help municipalities realize sustainable infrastructure projects, and to use lessons learned to help other municipalities achieve similar goals.
"Local solutions—scaled up—deliver major national impact, like economic growth and the emission reductions Canada needs to meet its climate change goals,” said Joanne Vanderheyden, second vice-president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “Whether it's through improved energy efficiency, fewer greenhouse gas emissions or stronger local infrastructure, local governments get the job done efficiently and cost-effectively because they connect solutions to local needs and local realities. FCM's Green Municipal Fund helps municipalities do what they do best: deliver solutions that work."
Since its inception in 2000, the fund has helped bring over 1,300 projects to life, and GMF-funded projects have cut 2.6 million tonnes of GHG emissions—the equivalent of taking 594,000 cars off the road.