Orangeville Council has approved an initiative to implement cost-saving measures following energy audits at eight Town-owned facilities.

Council decided Monday to enter into an agreement with Ainsworth Energy Services Inc. as part of an energy conservation proposal and feasibility study of the Town's facilities. The agreement will allow the Town to reduce energy usage and operating costs, address environmental stewardship, and realize significant infrastructure upgrades.

Under the agreement, there are no new capital costs for the Town, as the energy savings will fund the cost of the improvements.

Other benefits include improvement in comfort for staff, modernization of critical equipment, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Implementing the proposed measures will mean $211,844 per year in guaranteed utility savings. The infrastructure improvements and upgrades will cost $1,285,827, providing a full payback in 6.1 years.

Ainsworth has guaranteed the dollar value of the savings for each facility and will be responsible to pay for any shortfalls in the guaranteed monetary savings. The savings will be sufficient to completely fund the work over 6.1 years with no impact on the Town's operating budget.

Ainsworth will also be working with the Town to apply for NRCan (Natural Resources Canada) grants of up to $85,138 that are available for work completed as part of this project, and Enbridge grants of $16,881.

"The Town is bringing energy conservation to the forefront and is sure to come out ahead with this proposal put forward by Ainsworth," Mayor Rob Adams said. "We will realize a significant energy savings over the short and long term, we will upgrade some critical equipment at some of our facilities, and we will reduce energy consumption. We all win by raising awareness about the importance of energy conservation and efficiency."

The energy plan's highlights include: retrofitting lights at seven facilities; pool covers at both recreation centres; high efficiency condensing boilers at both recreation centres; the installation of high efficiency motors and variable frequency drives at various facilities; the retro-commissioning of the building automation system at the Alder Recreation Centre and Town Hall, and optimizing refrigeration system controls at Tony Rose Sports Centre and Alder Street Recreation Centre.

By undertaking these upgrades, the consultants estimate the Town will be saving 768 tons of polluting CO2 emissions, taking the equivalent of 156 cars off the road and saving 391 trees.

Ainsworth also recommended some optional upgrade measures which Council added to enhance the base energy project: low-E ceiling in the Alder Recreation Centre; lighting dimming controls in the recreation centres and the Public Works Operations Centre, and building envelope air leakage measures at all facilities.

Council authorized the agree- ment with Ainsworth to implement the cost-saving measures outlined in the energy audits for each of the Town-owned facilities upon final consultation with the facility managers.

Once the payback period is over, the Town will continue to benefit from reduced energy consumption and upgraded infrastructure.

It's anticipated it will take a month to finalize the contract and apply for grants and eight months to implement the project.