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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-07-014 - Heat Pump Project at the Kitchener Memorial AuditoriumJ KITCH~~NF,R - - ~ - Corporate Services Report To: Members of Finance & Corporate Services Committee Date of Meeting: January 29, 2007 Submitted By: L. Proulx, Director of Facilities Management Prepared By: L. Proulx, Director of Facilities Management Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: January 17, 2007 Report No.: CRPS: 07-014 Subject: Heat Pump Project at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium RECOMMENDATION: That staff proceed to replace all the heat pumps in 2007 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium with more efficient technology; and, That the proposed financing package outlined in report CRPS: 07-014 be approved. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: N/A BACKGROUND: The Auditorium is now into its second half century of functional use serving the needs of the public as an arena welcoming a lot of different venues in this versatile space. In the last decade, Council made some decisions that will ensure the continued use of the building for many years to come. In the late 1990s, the main ice floor was totally replaced. This now gives us the reassurance that the floor will be functional for its refrigeration demands for another half century. A substantial addition was also constructed at the turn of the century. Significant investment was made to upgrade back of house mechanical and electrical equipment in the last ten years. It is apparent that this building will be on our inventory for many years to come. This report will deal with one more significant maintenance item. REPORT: Facilities Management have one HVAC tradesman assigned full time at the Auditorium performing repairs and preventative maintenance. In the performance of his duties, he has reported that the heat pumps are at or beyond their life expectancy and has requested that we look at replacement of these units. There are nineteen heat pumps in operation in the building. Heat pumps are substantial pieces of equipment that are connected to a low temperature water loop, which adds or removes heat from each unit as required. These units provide cooling or January 17, 2007 Page 2 heating to building space distributing hot or cool air via ductwork. At present, a condensing boiler and evaporative fluid cooler add and remove heat from the loop as required. We have two options to deal with the heat pumps. They can be changed on an as needed basis into the future making use of the funds provided in building contingencies until all twenty are replaced. There is another option that merits consideration. On the energy side, staff have recommended that we go to a newer technology to achieve substantial savings in hydro into the future. If we proceed to this better technology, we do not have the option of removing heat pumps as they fail. We need to replace them all as one project because the loop temperature is higher and this would not be compatible with the existing units. The source of heat for these new heat pumps would not be the electric compressor but rather we would use the existing high efficiency boiler that is presently under utilized due to the significant energy improvements we have made in the building over time. This means that we would be using natural gas for source of power as opposed to electricity. The estimated energy savings is $17,000 annually. The premium to install these better units is estimated at $50,000 to $80,000 therefore we conclude that we would achieve a payback of three to five years on the premium. All that needs to be considered in the analysis of payback is the premium cost to go to higher quality units, since the units need to be changed anyways. Our staff have visited local schools that have converted to this technology recently. They confirmed that the technology is sound and reliable. Proposal: Staff recommend that we replace all the heat pumps with the newer more efficient technology which will achieve energy savings and will be more environmentally friendly in line with Council's recent vision of the environment. We propose to take funds from existing accounts in order to fund this endeavor. The funds we propose to redirect are for projects that can wait a year to four years without major significance. We propose a repayment plan that will put the funds back into these other accounts so that we can then undertake the projects for which the funds have been allocated. Find below the outline for specific details on this funding approach. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Funding Source From End of 2006 526061 Auditorium Mtce 61,627.23 *526097 Replacement HVAC 13,494.00 *526088 Replacement -Exterior Components 38,367.44 *526100 Replacement -Plumbing 12,758.02 *526103 Replacement Site Components 3,271.73 Subtotal: $129,518.42 January 17, 2007 Page 3 From 2007 Capital 526061 Auditorium Mtce 100,000 *526097 Replacement - HVAC 66,500 *526100 Replacement -Plumbing 30,000 *526103 Replacement -Site Components 25,000 Subtotal: 221,500 Grand Total: 351,018.42 Please Note: The accounts that show an asterisk (*) are the accounts that need to be paid back. Payback Amount: 189,391.19 Repavment Plan 2007 8,000 2008 17,000 2008 50,000 2009 18,000 2009 50,000 2010 19,000 2010 27,500 189,500 COMMUNICATIONS: N/A CONCLUSION: N/A L. Proulx, CET CMM III Director of Facilities Management LP/cr from Energy Savings (Aud. Elec. Reductions) from Energy Savings (Aud. Elec. Reductions) from Auditorium Mtce 526061 from Auditorium Electrical Savings from Auditorium Mtce 526061 from Auditorium Electrical Savings from Auditorium Mtce 526061