Home > News > Terasen Energy Services to build Okanagan's largest centralized green heating and cooling solution for new lakefront community project
Terasen Energy Services to build Okanagan's largest centralized green heating and cooling solution for new lakefront community project
October 21, 2008
BURNABY, B.C - Terasen Energy Services (TES) has signed an agreement with Troika Developments to design, build and manage an alternative energy system for Troika's West Harbour project that will integrate renewable energy to reduce the project's environmental footprint.
The 45-acre European-style community, located on Westbank First Nation land on the shores of Okanagan Lake, will include over 1,500 homes and 80,000 square feet of commercial space.
"We're excited that a development on Westbank First Nation's lands is utilizing a new technology that will reduce the demand on the province's energy supply and decrease greenhouse gas emissions," said Westbank First Nation's Chief, Robert Louie. "We are always supportive of innovation, especially where it benefits the environmental and social welfare of our community and the surrounding communities."
District energy systems can incorporate heat from multiple sources that is then piped throughout the community to provide space heating, domestic hot water heating, and air conditioning. These systems effectively integrate renewable energy and provide high levels of efficiency as the supply and demand is shared across multiple buildings.
"The benefit of a TES-owned district energy system is that it has less of an environmental impact than traditional systems, and provides safe, reliable energy at an affordable price," said Gareth Jones, Terasen Energy Services Vice President and General Manager.
The technologies that TES and Troika are considering for West Harbour include ground or water geoexchange systems, which extract heat from the earth or water as a source of renewable energy, thereby providing sustainable energy for residents and businesses.
"We recognize how important sustainable building practices have become, and the value Terasen Energy Services brings as a leader in building and managing alternative energy systems," said Renee Wasylyk, CEO of Troika. "Our West Harbour Development will build environmentally-sustainable homes that use local resources to provide heating and cooling."
"We are creating a real, vibrant community; a place where people want to live, get to know their neighbours, and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings, while at the same time being responsible to the environment," added Wasylyk.
The district energy system at West Harbour is expected to be operational as early as 2010. Terasen Energy Services will own and operate the system, providing safe, reliable and sustainable energy to the community through a long-term service contract. Through Terasen Energy Services' ownership, customers will receive the quality of service they have come to expect from an established utility.
For more information on the West Harbour development, visit www.westharbourkelowna.com. To learn more about Terasen Energy Services' alternative energy solutions, visit www.terasenenergyservices.com.
Terasen Energy Services builds, owns and operates geoexchange systems, community piping and energy transfer systems to harness renewable energy sources. Terasen Energy Services is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., and uses the Terasen Energy Services name and logo under license from Terasen Inc. Fortis Inc., the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada, serves two million gas and electric customers and has more than $10 billion of assets. Its regulated holdings include Terasen Gas and electric utilities in five Canadian provinces and three Caribbean countries. Fortis Inc. owns non-regulated hydroelectric generation assets across Canada and in Belize and upper New York State. It also owns hotels and commercial real estate in Canada. Fortis Inc. shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com or www.sedar.com.
Media contact:
Kristen Mucha
Manager, Business Development and Customer Relations
Terasen Energy Services
Tel: (604) 928-4188
E-mail: kristen.mucha@terasen.com
Manager, Business Development and Customer Relations
Terasen Energy Services
Tel: (604) 928-4188
E-mail: kristen.mucha@terasen.com