The new Prince George parkade and soon-to-be new pool at Seventh and Quebec have the ability to soon use the downtown renewable energy system.
The city says work began yesterday (May 1) to attach the new facilities to the system.
The system now delivers heat from Lakeland Mills to roughly a dozen downtown buildings through nearly three kilometres of underground pipes.
The city adds new connections to these pipes will be added over the next few days.
The steel pipes are wrapped in insulation and are eight inches in diameter. Hot water that goes through them can currently carry up to five megawatts worth of heat energy.
Sawmill residue from Lakeland Mills is burned to heat the water that goes through the piping system, which makes the energy renewable and makes low greenhouse gas emissions.
The city says with the Downtown Renewable Energy System, the new pool downtown will produce close to 95 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to if it was heated with natural gas.
Once the work on the energy system is finished, the new entrance to the downtown parkade will be paved, the city says.
The first residents of the Parkhouse Condo project are scheduled to move in just a month from now.
City spokesperson Michael Kellet says businesses such as Birch and Boar, CrossRoads and Photofax are still accessible during the construction. He adds pedestrian access is also being kept along George and Quebec Streets.
