By Kim Moar - The Weekly News
Fairview-Clayton Park is getting gas, natural gas that is.
Installation of the gas distribution system got underway a couple of weeks ago, and will continue throughout the summer, said Michel Sarrouy, vice-president of engineering and construction for Heritage Gas.
"There will be ongoing construction in the Clayton Park West area," he said.
Work crews have been, or will be, laying gas pipes on Dutch Village Road, Willett Street, Main Street, Lacewood Drive between Radcliffe Drive and Dunbrack Street and in the Chartwell Lane area to Mount Saint Vincent University.
Gas lines will also be placed on Parkland Drive and Regency Park Drive to hook up the new Canada Games Centre in time for the 2011 Games being held in Halifax from Feb. 11 to Feb. 27.
"Construction goes quite fast ... we average about 70 metres per day," Sarrouy said.
Crews dig a trench, lay the distribution pipes, backfill and gravel over the spot until it's paved a couple of days later.
Sarrouy said just because the gas pipes are there, does not necessarily mean the gas is available right then and there.
"The time somewhat varies. Sometimes, we do it immediately because customers want it immediately, or sometimes we may wait a month," Sarrouy said.
Terry Gallagher, manager of facility development for HRM, said not only is hooking up to natural gas in the Canada Games Centre the green thing to do, it will result in lower operational costs for the building.
"Natural gas is a lower-cost type of fuel and it burns cleaner," Gallagher said.
Plus, he said, natural gas is a lower risk fuel source from an environmental standpoint.
"With oil storage tanks, if they spill, there are issues relative to cleanup, and we don't have that with natural gas," Gallagher said.
The domestic hot water and air handling units will be heated with solar energy, he said.
So far, Heritage Gas has hooked up about 2,500 customers evenly split between commercial and residential clients.
Gas is available on the Dartmouth side in Burnside, Dartmouth Crossing, downtown, and parts of Woodside and Cole Harbour. On the Halifax side, gas lines are active downtown, and in areas of central, north and west Halifax peninsula to the Village at Bayers Road.
"Heritage Gas is excited to be providing natural gas as an option to consumers and businesses in these areas especially knowing that natural gas is significantly more cost effective and much cleaner for the environment as an energy source," said Heritage Gas spokesman Mike Howard.
Potential customers that have natural gas available on their street can call Heritage Gas or visit www.heritagegas.com to start the process. Installation usually takes place within weeks, he said. Customers converting from an oil system to natural gas will need to purchase natural gas heating equipment. The cost of new heating equipment can vary depending on the resident's preference and needs, he said.
In situations where potential customers are converting from propane to natural gas, the equipment is similar and the conversion is less complex and less costly.
"We promote an authorized dealer network made up of heating contractors in HRM that can provide customers with a quote to purchase and install new natural gas heating equipment," Howard said.
The list of network members can be found at www.heritagegas.com
Heritage Gas also has a rebate program in place where residents and commercial customers converting their central heating system to natural gas will be eligible for a rebate.
"This assists with reducing their conversion costs," Howard said.
Natural gas applications are not limited to heating and hot water. Natural gas can be used as the energy source for ranges and ovens, fireplaces, dryers, and for heating pools and hot tubs, barbecues, outdoor heating, lighting and more.
"Our existing customers have benefitted substantially from a less costly energy source and can take additional comfort in doing their part with a positive environmental impact from a significant reduction in CO2 emissions in comparison to oil," Howard said.
Gas installation will move into the Bayers Lake area next year.
kmoar@hfxnews.ca
