Siemens, chamber warming it up, up, up.

The City of Timmins hopes to reap the benefits of engaging in two energy initiatives aimed at conserving power and bringing renewable energy to the fore.

The Timmins Chamber Council is interested in moving ahead on an estimated $5.5 million energy savings initiative with Siemens Building Technologies.

Approximately 82 public buildings in the city will be audited for energy use. Siemens' inspectors will walk through various aged facilities to determine if a new roof, windows, insulation, heating/cooling systems and pumps are required to create energy savings. Detailed recommendations for each building will be written up in a $130,000 report, which will be presented to a Chamber steering committee.

Mark Jensen, director of community development, is hoping to get agencies such as NRCan to share up to half of the project's price tag.

The rest of the financial support will come from low-interest loans over a six- to eight-year period.

Meanwhile, a project using recycled mine water from abandoned mines in Timmins has been resurrected as the city investigates new ways of supplementing heating costs.

FVB Energy Inc. has completed a feasibility study for the project, which is aimed at reusing water from the abandoned MacIntyre and Hollinger Mines to heat the MacInytre Arena and Timmins Hospital.

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Using a heat exchange system, the intent is to use the flooded, abandoned mines as warm water reservoirs. A well would be drilled and water would be pumped from an approximate 250-metre depth up to an electric heat pump. The temperature then would be boosted for heating purposes.

But capital costs for changing the heating system in each building cost too much, according to city council.

"Although there is still is a payback period, it would be much longer and probably unreasonable to undertake," Jensen says.

So, the city and the company went back to the drawing board to look for another building. Last month, FVB representatives came to council with a report that suggested The Shania Twain Centre, which is near, if not on top of, both mines.

"FVB says it is feasible," Jensen says.

Jensen and the steering committee are exploring the feasibility of using rock-heated water to warm the shrine to the country icon. Ideally, it would be more attractive if it is deemed to have zero impact on the budget, Jensen says, but if the city can obtain funding through government agencies or with low interest loans over a six- to eight-year period, the $350,000 project may be approved. The realized savings could then be allocated into paying off the loan or providing other sectors with more funding opportunities.

Should the project be approved, FVB would oversee the engineering developments, while the construction and installation of the energy saving equipment would be put out for tender, probably by the spring.

In addition to delivering energy savings and being an ecologically sound idea, the geothermal project is a great teaching tool. The equipment and knowledge used in the development could be a big draw for the community at large. Moreover, Jensen is hoping it will snag the hearts of some entrepreneurial spirits in the city, if the project proves successful.

Below the city--the downtown core is basically on top of a mine--lay mine stopes and raises where the warm water pools.

"Maybe there is potential to do this on a district level."

www.sbt.siemens.com

www.timminschamber.on.ca

KELLY LOUISEIZE

Northern Ontario Business