IQALUIT - Territorial government buildings in Iqaluit are getting refitted to save energy and water. The Government of Nunavut has hired a contractor to install energy- and water-saving systems on 39 buildings in Iqaluit. If the new systems perform well the government will consider expanding them to other communities of Nunavut.

"We are using Iqaluit as a pilot project in terms of what works and what doesn't work in Arctic communities," said Adam Gordon, manager of energy initiatives for the Department of Community and Government Services.

Qikiqtani General Hospital is being fitted with a solar air heating wall to cut down on the institution's heating bills. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

At places such as the Baffin Correctional Centre use a lot of water for laundry, cooking and sanitation, the government is considering installing solar water heating systems. Water would go through a system of pipes under a black surface which will become hot as the sun shines on it. The black surface helps heat the water, saving the government money on water heating.

In the darkness of winter or when there is bad weather, the existing water heating system would function on its own.

Qikiqtani General Hospital already has a solar heating wall installed for air instead of water. The black wall gets hot in the sun and raises the temperature of the inside the building by about 5 C.

Many buildings may be getting new stoves, ovens and refrigerators with energy-efficient ratings. Some lighting is being replaced with bulbs that don't use as much electricity.

Conserving water is also a big part of the project, according to Gordon. Iqaluit's water costs are high because of the cost of treatment and of delivery. Even buildings on the utilidor system have high costs because the water has to be pre-heated in winter or it will freeze in the pipes.

The project is worth almost $900 million, but the government's deal with MCW Custom Energy Solutions has the company fronting the cost of the work. Once the systems are in place, the government will pay the company out of the savings generated by the new systems.

The government will pay the MCW the savings for 10 years, even though it's estimated the new systems will pay for themselves in eight years, providing MCW with a profit.

If the systems don't save as much money as expected the government still only has to pay the amount of the savings.

Windmill considered

Still under consideration is the idea of mounting a wind turbine near Joamie School and Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik. It would be a relatively small unit, at 30 metres tall.

Wind turbines can be tricky because they require very specialized maintenance which may not be available in Nunavut. There has been a wind turbine in Rankin Inlet since the late 1990s, but it spent a long time inoperative.

In high winds, windmills can't work because it they break apart so there are brakes installed. But the "tip brakes" in the Rankin windmill were flawed and always stopped the windmill even when the winds were good. That problem had nothing to do with Arctic conditions, but it was a long time before a qualified repair crew could come up to service it, according to Mike Yarema, manager of Kivalliq operations for Qulliq Energy Corporation.

It only recently started working again in late 2008 after a visit from technical staff from Prince Edward Island.

"That's why we are being very cautious with it before we proceed," said Gordon. "Can the technology perform here? Does it have the track record in other locations? Can we maintain it?"

The final model of the turbine has not yet been selected, and the government will abandon that part of the project if it is not satisfied the turbine will work in the cold and that it can be maintained.

Gordon said wind turbines are already successfully in use in Yukon and Antarctica.