Victoria Hall boiler replacement moves ahead in Cobourg
COBOURG — Victoria Hall is about to get
much more energy efficient thanks to a new state-of-the-art boiler
system being installed just in time for the cooler months.
With the previous system “failing fast,”
Town staff said the upgrade could not have come at a better time.
“We were at the point where we were lucky
to get through this past winter,” said Sally LeBlanc, the town’s
supervisor of building maintenance. “Trying to get heat to the third
floor was very difficult and a lot of space heaters were used.”
She said repairs to the boilers became more
frequent in recent years while parts were becoming harder to find.
“These new boilers are state-of-the-art with an efficiency
of 94 per cent, compared to what was essentially a 58 per cent
efficiency.” Mark Benedet, engineer with AECOM
“When we did get (the parts) they were expensive,” she said.
During a tour of the new system, when 40
per cent of it had already been installed, the project engineer with
AECOM, Mark Benedet, said the boilers being replaced had served the
facility for 35 years.
“They were not going to see another
season,” he said, pointing out a new system was selected with energy
conservation in mind. “These new boilers are state of the art, with an
efficiency of 94 per cent, compared to what was essentially a 58-per
cent efficiency.”
The Town has installed eight gas-fired condensing boilers supplied by Viessmann.
The prefabricated cascade system fires
boilers as required to meet fluctuating heating demands, maintaining
efficiency at all times.
Should one of the boilers need to be
serviced, it can be shut down since only six are required to heat the
hall, Mr. Benedet said.
The improved system also takes up much less
space in the boiler room downstairs, Ms. Benedet said, adding that it
is the first step in upgrading the entire heating system at the
building.
The project was awarded to Vic’s Group Inc.
of Toronto for $279,000, with a capital budget approval of $400,000 to
be funded from reserves.
