CRD Once-Through Cooling System Rebate

For industrial, commercial and institutional customers of the Greater Victoria water supply system, CRD Water Services offers rebates of $1,200 per ton to eliminate once-through cooled condensers and $2,400 per ton to eliminate once-through cooled ice makers; up to a maximum of $5,000 per account. Only once-through water cooled equipment installed before January 1, 2006 is eligible for a rebate.

Sponsoring agency: Capital Regional District
Type of agency: Local government

Program offerings

Once-through cooling systems, also known as single-pass cooling systems, are expensive and wasteful. These systems remove heat by transferring it to a supply of clean, cold municipal drinking water and discharging it directly to the sewer. Equipment that may use once-through cooling includes commercial and industrial air conditioners, refrigerators, coolers and ice machines.

Once-through cooling systems are often used for small commercial cooling loads because they are relatively inexpensive to install and require little maintenance. However, the cost of water to operate a small once-through cooling system for two years is usually greater than the cost of installing an air cooled system that uses no water. For a 12,000 BTU/hour (or 1 ton, roughly equivalent to 1 horsepower) condensing unit, once-through cooling uses more than one million litres of water per year. A typical restaurant has several of these units, together sending thousands of dollars per year worth of clean water down the drain. In addition to this cost, each once-through cooling system also requires a backflow prevention device that must be tested annually.

Eligibility


Application procedure

Visit the CRD Cooling Equipment Rebates website for application form.

Contact information

Telephone: 250.474.9684


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