Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Bridgewater Fitness Facility

The province is investing more than $615,000 to support energy efficiency retrofits for the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater.

The project, announced today, July 5, includes installing more efficient lighting and heating, improvements to the operations of the ice plant and pool facilities, and the installation of a 50 kilowatt solar panel.

“Improving energy efficiency for community facilities advances our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helps achieve energy savings for taxpayers and promotes options for a healthier lifestyle,” said Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, on behalf of Energy and Mines Minister Chuck Porter.

The federal government is investing more than $738,000 in the project and the Lunenburg County Multi Purpose Centre Corporation is contributing almost $493,000. The total cost of the project is more than $1.84 million.

The retrofits will support energy efficiency upgrades that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce operating costs for the centre and allow the arena to continue to operate year-round.

The work is expected to start later this summer.

Quotes:

“We are on our way out of this pandemic. Over 75 per cent of eligible Canadians have received their first vaccine, and Nova Scotia has reopened its borders to the rest of Canada. Now is the time to plan for a healthier, more livable, more sustainable future – and to put our plans in action. Our investment in the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre will create good jobs and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy costs for the centre. That means more savings to invest in the great services they provide to our community.”

– Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margarets, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“This is another example of a project in partnership, municipally, provincially and federally, that will help reduce our carbon footprint as well as our energy costs. The Town of Bridgewater is thrilled to participate as a partner in the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre.”

– David Mitchell, mayor, Town of Bridgewater

“I’m very pleased at today’s announcement that our provincial and federal partners will join the municipal partners of the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre to invest in these important upgrades. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at our facilities is important to this council, and this investment is integral to that work.”

– Carolyn-Bolivar-Getson, mayor, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

“We are incredibly grateful to the federal and provincial governments for this funding. The upgrades are going to help us to decrease our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time increasing the user experience in the facility.”

– Kent Walsh, general manager, Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre

Quick Facts:

• the Lunenburg County Multi Purpose Centre Corporation is co-owned equally by the Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
• the province has set a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050

Additional Resources:

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre: https://www.lclc.ca/