Indoor Aquatic Facility (IAF)
The Indoor Aquatic Facility is designed to be net-zero energy-ready. This means that the facility will be extremely energy efficient, which will reduce the energy needed to power and heat, and be ready to produce renewable energy on-site (for example, by adding solar panels or other technology). The project also involves the construction of a deep Geothermal Heating Facility (GHF).
By designing and building a new, centrally located aquatics facility, the City of Regina can meet the community's service level needs in the future by delivering sport, recreation, and cultural programming to existing and new neighbourhoods.
Geothermal Heating Facility
Through the construction of a deep Geothermal Heating Facility (GHF), naturally occurring hot water will be extracted from the earth and provide energy to the new Indoor Aquatics Facility before being returned to the earth.
Geothermal energy has significant environmental benefits since it reduces the need for fossil fuel heating sources. The GHF will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% compared to a natural gas equivalent system, and combined with the IAF’s on-site renewable energy generation potential (such as solar panels), is expected to provide all the facility’s energy needs.
Electric Buses
In 2023, the City began transitioning to electric Zero-Emission Buses for the Regina Transit System, in line with the Regina Transit Master Plan.
The City anticipates that purchasing the 20 electric buses will result in annual savings of $440,000. These 20 buses are estimated to save more than $7.4 million throughout their life expectancy of 17 years and to reduce GHG emissions by 13,000 tonnes. Overall, if all City buses were transitioned to Zero-Emission Buses, this would reduce GHG emissions by 146,200 tonnes!
Anti-Idling
An idle control program was initiated in January 2023, which included an update to the corporate policy and an education rollout to employees. The program uses telematics (GPS) equipment in vehicles to gather information on idling behaviours and support employees in reducing vehicle idling. Data from the idling program shows that increased education and tracking of idling has resulted in fuel cost savings and lower GHG emissions from the City’s fleet through reduced fuel consumption.
Landfill Gas to Energy Facility
The City of Regina owns and operates the Regina Landfill, which is the largest landfill in Saskatchewan. Managing the landfill using best practices and ensuring compliance is important to the City, including reducing impacts such as the release of greenhouse gases produced when waste breaks down in a landfill.
One of the ways this is achieved also produces green energy. The Landfill Gas to Energy system at the Regina Landfill uses 53 wells to collect gas from the hill. This gas is then sent to an on-site energy facility where it powers an engine, producing enough renewable electricity to power 1,000 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30,000 tonnes per year.
Future plans include expanding the landfill gas collection system with additional wells and increasing the production of renewable energy, which would result in further greenhouse emission savings.
Water Network Expansion Project
The City of Regina Water Master Plan (WMP) provided a 25-year capital upgrade plan for the City’s water distribution network to accommodate growth. Water storage volumes must also be increased so the City can continue to provide water to users during emergency situations such as facility shutdowns and fighting fires.
The WMP recommended implementing the Water Network Expansion Project (previously referred to as the Eastern Pressure Solution) to more effectively address critical water distribution and storage needs, and establish a long-term plan for the City’s water distribution network. The project will build a new water pumping station, two 42.5ML water storage reservoirs and an 8.4km long water supply main. These new facilities will allow the City’s water network to accommodate a population of up to 310,000 people. The new facilities will be expandable in the future to handle a population increase of up to 500,000 people.
