Energy upgrades on track at Children First Society
Town lends support for photovoltaic and biomass boiler system in CFS building
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, October 13, 2016
INUVIK
After budget concerns led to a restructuring earlier this fiscal year, the Children First Society now feels it is on more sustainable footing and is pursuing two new energy systems that should reduce some of its annual costs.
Liam Griffiths plays at the Children First Society on Sept. 30. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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Board co-chair Adam Wright went before town council with executive director Patricia Davidson asking for a letter of support from the town, which owns the society's building.
At the start of the fiscal year, the society proposed a budget deficit of $130,000.
"There was also concern about outstanding rent payments, having not paid rent since the roof fell in. A finance committee was struck to address this problem," said Wright, reading from a prepared report. "By restructuring the caregiver to child ratio, while still maintaining the standards set out by (the Department of Education, Culture and Employment), we have managed to balance our budget and stay current in our rental payments. The CFS appears to be on stable financial footing as a result."
The society feels it is now on much more stable financial ground, and is pursuing two large energy upgrades in the hopes they will reduce annual costs even more.
The first is a 15 kW photovoltaic system, which is estimated to offset approximately half of the centre's thermal-generated electricity consumption through solar-generated electricity. That should reduce the society's annual electricity expense by approximately $15,000.
Second is an 80 kW biomass boiler system, which is estimated to offset approximately 30 per cent of the centre's daily SNG consumption, reducing the centre's annual heating costs by $12,000.
"Both of these will be funded at this point through third-party contributions," said Wright.
The photovoltaic system is pegged at $162,750 and the biomass at $137,250, for a total of $300,000.
The society is currently at about a $25,000 short of covering the costs, and so is seeking other funding sources.
"If it comes to the point where the project is either a go-ahead or stop and that funding of $25,000 has not been met, we would either scale back or pull out from the project," said Wright. "We're not going to indebt ourselves at $25,000 without knowing where it's coming from."
Senior administrative officer Grant Hood confirmed to council there would be no financial commitment or implication for the town.
The society needed the town's approval because the town owns the building. The full proposed agreement states that the Children First Society would maintain ownership of the assets and energy the new systems create, in return for maintaining the systems, bearing full responsibility for their costs and transferring ownership to the town should the society vacate the facility in the future.
Deputy Mayor Steve Baryluk commended the society on its better financial position.
"Glad to see you guys are on more solid ground now than the last time we had a chat," he said.
After not achieving a quorum in its council meeting on Sept. 28, the town held a special council meeting on Oct. 1, when council approved the letter of support.
The society is aiming for the new energy systems to be installed in March 2017.
