Energy Efficiency News
Nova Scotia gov’t to provide $448,000 to combat climate change

Four Nova Scotia municipalities and a community arts centre will help fight climate change and improve air quality with more than $448,000 in provincial funding for energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects, according to the provincial government.

“Government is showing genuine leadership that is on the side of municipalities so that, together, we are making our environment healthier and our economy stronger,” said Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau. “Each of these municipalities is making great strides toward a cleaner Nova Scotia for future generations.”

The Municipality of the County of Annapolis is receiving more than $195,000 to install energy management control systems, energy-efficient lighting, and insulation in up to 11 buildings.

“We have completed energy audits on all of our facilities. With the use of EcoNS (ecoNova Scotia) funding, we will be investing in changes that will reduce our energy consumption,” said Peter Newton, warden of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis. “As we reduce our consumption to a sustainable level, we will look at alternate energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on external energy. This will reduce the impact of rising energy costs and enable us to have secure energy supply.”

The Municipality of the District of Argyle is receiving more than $58,000 in ecoNova Scotia funding for two projects: a heat recovery system that will extract energy from wastewater that can be used to heat two new buildings at the wastewater treatment plant, and upgrades to the administration building, including insulation, energy-efficient lighting and an energy management control system.

The ecoNova Scotia Fund is also contributing more than $144,000 to the Town of Berwick to add energy efficiencies to its town hall. Insulation, window awnings, a solar wall and an energy-efficient heating system will be installed.

Other projects in the Valley region are receiving amounts ranging from $23,000 to about $28,000 for energy-efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects. Projects include the installation of outdoor solar showers and a solar hot water system at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.

Belliveau said the projects are helping the province meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to at least 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, as well as significantly reduce air pollutants. He added that ecoNova Scotia funding has helped many Nova Scotia businesses and municipalities contribute to meeting that goal.

June 25, 2010  By  John Gilson