Harmony Centre (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
The Harmony Centre says upgrades have been completed to allow the building’s greenhouse gas emissions to be cut by 50 metric tonnes per year.
The cultural centre, which was originally a church, was able to put in state-of-the-art heat pumps as well as energy-efficient windows and necessary electrical upgrades.
Board member Barry Randall says that thanks to grant funding through both the Canadian and Ontario governments, they had the opportunity to make the building more efficient and convert the heating system from old radiators.
“With the Harmony Centre, the heating system was in trouble anyway. It had been there for a while, so it was time to replace it,” says Randall. “It was perfect timing to convert it to this heat pump system.”
The facility was able to rely on local companies and contractors to get all of the work done. Jeff Graham from GSS Engineering Consultants oversaw the work, with the help of Van Dolder’s Custom Exteriors to replace the windows, Air-Tech Mechanical for the HVAC system, and Benedict Electric.
Funding for the upgrades came from a $555,000 grant through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as well as a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and a $35,000 contribution through local donations.
He says “We reduced our reliance on natural gas and reduced the methane in the atmosphere and our greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s been a fabulous transformation of an old building and a great example of what can be done.”
The work, which results in a reduction of 50 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emission equivalents, is the same as taking 11 cars off the road in a year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Randall says that part of the new HVAC system also includes better circulation which also includes the air inside the building being passed through HEPA filters, which make the air cleaner from dirt, debris, and air-borne bacteria and viruses.
The upgrades and retrofitting mean that the Harmony Centre is more energy efficient, more comfortable, and more financially sustainable.