Geoexchange heating on Saturna Island

Record fuel prices have turned many people's thoughts to alternative energy sources. Members of the Saturna Recreation Centre Society were ahead of their time. When they began planning more than two years ago to build a new 10,000 square foot community facility on Saturna Island, they chose to install an energy-efficient geoexhange heating/cooling system.

Geoexchange systems work differently from ordinary furnace and air conditioning systems. Furnaces create heat by burning a fuel, usually natural gas, propane or fuel oil. Geoexchange systems don't make heat, but collect and cirulate the earth's own thermal heat. A series of pipes buried deep below ground (or submersed in a pond or lake) concenrate this natural energy and then uses it to heat or cool a building. The result: significantly less power use than in conentional heating systems, and no greenhouse gas emissions. Saturna's new community centre includes a medical centre, gymnasium and performing arts stage, as well as meeting rooms, a lounge, kitchen and the administration offices for Parks Canada. Based on a solid plan and the strong commitment of the community, Vancity Capital backed the Saturna Recreation Centre Society. While local resources and government contributions funded most of the project, Vancity Capital stepped in with repayable bridge financing to help meet the construction schedule. "This project is an excellent fit with our mandate to support organizations using alternative, less harmful energy," says Derek Gent of Vancity Capital. "And, the Centre will serve as a community asset for Saturna Island residents for generations to come."

The southernmost of the Gulf Islands, Saturna has a population of over 1,000, about 350 of whom are full-time residents. But as its new Centre shows, even a small community with a forward-thinking mindset can achieve great things.