TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT MEMORANDUM
MEETING DATE: April 20, 2026, Report No. P&R-26-005
TO: Committee of the Whole
FROM: Steve Knoke, Director Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: GHG Reduction Pathway Through Building Retrofits
INFORMATION:
The purpose of this memorandum is to update Council on corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction progress based on the findings of the recently completed Building Retrofit Feasibility Study, and to outline how the study supports the Township's long-term climate action objectives.
The Township of Esquimalt commissioned a Building Retrofit Feasibility Study to identify a near net-zero greenhouse gas reduction pathway for five major municipal facilities:
1. Esquimalt Recreation Centre
2. Archie Browning Sports Centre
3. Municipal Hall
4. Public Works Yard
5. Parks Nursery Building
The study was completed by WSP and funded in part through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Community Building Retrofit Program. The scope of work included detailed energy audits (Appendix A), building condition assessments (Appendix B), airtightness testing, and the development of multiple GHG reduction scenarios ranging from short-term efficiency measures to long-term deep retrofits.
CORPORATE GHG BASELINE SUMMARY
Based on benchmarking completed as part of the study, these five facilities represent the majority of the Township's corporate building-related GHG emissions.
* The Esquimalt Recreation Centre and Archie Browning Sports Centre are the largest emission sources due to their size, energy intensity, and reliance on natural gas for space and water heating.
* Municipal Hall, the Public Works Yard, and the Parks Nursery contribute comparatively lower emissions but present more straightforward and cost-effective opportunities for electrification and energy efficiency upgrades.
The establishment of consistent, facility-specific baselines provides a defensible foundation for tracking emissions reductions over time and evaluating future ...
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