Killarney Community Centre
Energy Study & Decarbonization Plan
Project Overview
FirstLight Energy Solutions partnered with the City of Vancouver to conduct a Heat Recovery & Gas Conservation Study for Killarney Community Centre, a multi-use civic facility in Vancouver. The study identified a prioritized bundle of measures to reduce natural gas consumption and GHG emissions, supporting the City's Climate Emergency Action Plan and a federal GICB grant application.
The Challenge
Killarney Community Centre is a 9,200 m² facility comprising four buildings constructed between 1983 and 2019, including a community centre, an ice rink, an aquatic centre, and a senior's centre. The facility historically consumed approximately 6,600 GJ of natural gas and 2,700 MWh of electricity annually, generating approximately 360 tonnes of CO₂e in GHG emissions.
The Solution
Detailed Mechanical Systems Investigation
FirstLight conducted site visits and reviewed DDC trend logs, operator logbooks, and equipment data to document existing HVAC, refrigeration, and domestic hot water systems, establishing a reliable baseline for all proposed retrofit measures.
Building Controls Optimization
FirstLight identified control deficiencies including bypassed heat recovery dampers and improperly tuned VAV logic. Updated strategies are aligned with ASHRAE Guideline 36.
Heat Recovery System Integration & Expansion
The arena heat recovery chiller was recommended to be replaced to increase capacity. The proposed project includes integration of the Senior's Centre, Community Centre, and arena underfloor thermal storage system.
Low-Flow Plumbing Fixture Retrofit
Showerheads across the Arena, Pool, and Community Centre were recommended to be replaced with low-flow fixtures.
As a GICB program requirement, FirstLight developed a RETScreen Expert model comparing the facility's base case and proposed energy profiles using utility bill data, quantifying projected energy savings and GHG reductions.