Conestoga gets $5.2 million to reduce greenhouse emissions
President stresses ‘a strategic priority’
The province is investing close to $5.2 million to support a new project at Conestoga College that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move the college’s Fountain Street campus in Cambridge toward a net zero carbon footprint.
“Ontario’s colleges and universities are preparing a generation of workers to succeed and innovate in the years to come — so it makes sense the campuses themselves reflect that kind of innovation and sustainability,” said Cambridge MPP Kathryn McGarry.
“Conestoga is exactly that type of campus, and our government’s investment will help the college reduce its greenhouse gas pollution and become a leader for its students in the fight against climate change.”
The funding comes from the province’s Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofits Program Innovation Fund, which is providing more than $214 million in grants as well as $300 million in interestfree loans to improve energy efficiency at college and university facilities across Ontario.
It is part of a five-year Climate Change Action Plan, funded by proceeds from the province’s cap on pollution and carbon market.
Through the retrofit project, Conestoga will install a ground source heat pump system to provide thermal energy as well as a solar photovoltaic system that will provide renewable electricity.
The geothermal heating and cooling system will significantly reduce the amount of natural gas required for space heating and will provide space cooling from a renewable energy source.
And the solar photovoltaic system will offset 100 per cent of the annual load of the geothermal system and provide additional renewable electricity for use at the campus.
“Conestoga appreciates the opportunity to participate in the Greenhouse Gas Campus Retrofits Program,” said college president John Tibbits.
“Enhancing the sustainability of our campuses is a strategic priority for our college.
“Support provided through this initiative will help us to upgrade facilities to further increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.”
The Fountain Street campus, opened in 2011, is a 260,000square-foot facility that was built with a focus on the sustainable use of energy.
The facility was awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification by the Canada Green Building Council.
Conestoga has a major expansion underway at its Waterloo campus that will include solar photovoltaic cells, chilled water storage, LED lighting and lowflow water fixtures.