Leduc's ECO Station slated for energy efficiency upgrades

LEDUC -- The City of Leduc is moving ahead with a major energy efficiency upgrade at the City's ECO Station, while more municipal facilities could see similar upgrades in the coming months.

This comes after City Council approved the installation of a new ground source heat pump system at the waste collection facility at their regular meeting on Feb. 9, 2026. The new system will cost $160,000, which will be fully reimbursed by a grant received by Emissions Reduction Alberta. Kyle van Steenoven -- Director of Engineering and Environment -- says the upgrade will support the City's environmental, GHG reduction, and operational efficiency goals by reducing energy usage and utility costs for municipal facilities.

"It will upgrade the current system there, which is a combination of an electric-powered AC unit and a gas-powered furnace system for heating the building," said van Steenoven. "It would retrofit both of those into a geothermal heat pump system."

He says that replacing the current system with a GSHP could eliminate natural gas usage entirely at this site, and make the building net-zero electricity ready, as well as reduce utility costs for the building. The plans also align with the City's Environment Plan as well as its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan. Kyle van Steenoven notes that they're considering similar upgrades for other buildings as well, as funding for these projects would also come from the ERA's grant program.

"This is the only one we were successful with in the first round, but there are additional upgrades to the Woodbend Lift Station that we're looking for in round two," said van Steenoven. "Some of it comes down to scale and the complexity of the buildings."

Leduc Council has also approved plans to conduct energy audits at thirteen City facilities at the cost of $110,000. This will be fully reimbursed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Fund grant program. Administration says that these audits will support the City's environmental, greenhouse gas reduction, and operational efficiency goals by identifying opportunities to reduce energy usage and utility costs for the operation of municipal facilities.