The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District is looking at energy saving projects, and has asked the Education ministry for a share of its green funding.
These include a lighting upgrade at Pitt Meadows secondary, which would cost $181,000, a mechanical systems upgrade at Kanaka Creek Elementary for $476,000, and electric vehicles for the school district’s maintenance department, for $100,000.
The province is making $5 million available to districts across the province, and treasurer Flavia Coughlan noted it is unlikely the board will have funding for all three projects approved.
Emissions reductions and cost savings will be the main considerations as the province considers the grant applications.
Trustees noted there is a moral obligation for the district to address carbon emissions.
“We should be leaders when it comes to doing the right thing,” said Trustee Sarah Nelson.
The Kanaka project would replace 34 natural gas-fired rooftop units with a heat pump system. The existing units are near the end of life and need to be replaced, so the cost of upgrading to the heat pumps would be repaid in energy savings in less than seven years. It would also avoid 52 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
The Pitt Meadows lighting upgrade would save $5,600 per year in energy savings, while purchasing three electric cars to replace gasoline trucks would save the district $3,600 per year in energy costs, and cut about seven tonnes of CO2 per year.
Happy Trails
The school board will allow Parks and Leisure Services to build a new gravel pedestrian trail on property at Pitt Meadows secondary.
The trail – on a downhill slope south of the sports field – will extend west from an existing trail on the south slope, through city parkland, and connect with Parkside Walk within the Fieldstone subdivision on Harris Road.
The entire cost of the trail and its maintenance will be assumed by the municipality.
Trustee Carr said she walks that area regularly, and believes the trail will make the walk safer and be an improvement.