HVAC and Water Heating Upgrades Across Four Municipal Buildings – Town of Sexsmith

Overview

As a part of the Community Energy Conservation (CEC) Program, the Town of Sexsmith completed furnace replacements, smart thermostat installations, and water heating upgrades across four municipal facilities as part of its commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency, and fiscal responsibility. Town leaders recognized this project as an opportunity to modernize aging heating infrastructure in their public buildings while simultaneously reducing utility expenses and environmental impact.

Approach

Town staff, working with a local contractor, replaced outdated heating infrastructure, including conventional furnaces and standard hot water tanks with high-efficiency condensing furnaces, smart thermostats, and modern water heating equipment. By evaluating the age, condition, and energy use of each system, they focused their upgrades on those with the highest energy consumption and those nearing the end of their operational lifespan.

The HVAC and water heating upgrades occurred at the following four facilities:

Sexsmith Civic Centre (Community Hall) – 9917 99 Ave
Town Office (Town Hall) – 9927 100 St
Sexsmith Council Chambers (Town Hall) – 9921 100 St
Sexsmith Arena (Recreation Centre) – 9800 93 St

Facility	Project Description	Project Cost	Rebate	Annual GHG Reduction
Sexsmith Civic Centre	2 furnace replacements, smart thermostat, condensing hot water tank	$25,965	$12,983	7.8 tonnes CO₂e
Town Office	1 furnace replacement, smart thermostat, tankless water heater	$12,753	$6,377	4.2 tonnes CO₂e
Sexsmith Council Chambers	2 furnace replacements, smart thermostat, tankless water heater	$15,537	$7,769	4.9 tonnes CO₂e
Sexsmith Arena	4 furnace replacements, smart thermostat, condensing hot water tank	$75,422	$37,711	19.2 tonnes CO₂e

The project was initiated in 2025 with installations completed during the first quarter of 2026. This project was funded by the Government of Alberta.

Results

The transition to high-efficiency equipment delivered substantial energy savings across all four municipal sites. In total, the project resulted in the replacement of 9 furnaces, installation of 4 smart thermostats, and upgrades to water heating systems throughout all four facilities. Natural gas consumption was reduced by approximately 717 GJ per year, offsetting a significant percentage of each facility’s overall heating load. The reduction in energy use translated directly to decreased operating costs of nearly $7,739 annually. These savings free up municipal funds for reinvestment in other community priorities.

“We are grateful to the MCCAC for their support towards energy improvements at our municipality. With their help, we’re reducing our impact on the environment and seeing meaningful cost savings at the same time.”

Rachel Wueschner, CAO, Town of Sexsmith

“The Town of Sexsmith’s comprehensive HVAC upgrade activities demonstrate how bundling energy efficiency upgrades can have a positive impact. We’re pleased and impressed with how the Town leveraged the Community Energy Conservation program.”

Trina Innes, Executive Director, Municipal Climate Change Action Centre