Geothermal Heat Pumps Add to Natatorium’s Efficiency
Quebec Aquatic Centre Boasts LEED Benefits through Green Technologies
The city of Côte Saint Luc’s new $18 million Aquatic and Community Centre could easily qualify as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)-certified silver project. The facility’s HVAC strategy, for example, far surpasses many national energy-efficiency code requirements and equates to tens of LEED credits. The 45,000-square-foot facility employs a 500-foot-deep geothermal field, exhaust-air heat recovery for preheating outside air, dehumidifier compressor heat recovery for efficient pool water heating, and is recognized as one of Canada’s first natatoriums to use a cutting-edge reduced refrigerant HVAC dehumidifier strategy.
The state-of-the-art technology is a residual of design ideas from a LEED-certification goal the city withdrew early in the planning process. While state-of-the-art green technology typically carries a higher upfront price tag, the city will achieve a quick four-year payback, saving millions of dollars in energy costs over the lifespan of the facility.