As work progresses on the renovation and expansion of the Town Office in Innisfail, Council is moving ahead to make the administrative building more energy efficient.
 
They've selected Dandelion Renewables out of Edmonton to install 56 solar panels on their brand new roof, which is currently under construction.
 
Mayor Brian Spiller explains the cost of the project.

“It’ll be in the $50,000 range, but I believe we are getting about $14,000 back from the Alberta Government through their Municipal Climate Change Action Plan. It’s the right thing to do in today’s time that we should be looking green, we should be looking at reducing our power and municipalities should be taking the lead role in this”.

In terms or energy savings, Spiller notes what they should see.

“It’s going to be about a 52% reduction in our daytime power needs, through the solar. But the night time of course you’re not going to get any solar power and you’re still using electricity in your building. Most of our work is done during daytime hours, through that we figure about a 12 year payback on the remainder so the $36,000 difference”.

The Town Office make-over has a 2.4 million dollar price tag as they are expanding their administrative space into the former fire hall.