History of District Energy Windsor
The History of District Energy Windsor (DEW)
In 1995, the Windsor Utilities Commission (WUC) studied the benefits that a district energy (DE) system would bring to the City in terms of the environment and promoting development by offering a highly efficient heating and cooling energy source for developers.
The results of the feasibility study conducted by Natural Resources Canada showed the market in Windsor to be very favourable for a district heating and cooling system, especially with the proposed Casino project as the anchor district energy customer.
An agreement was struck with Northwind Windsor (NWW) to build and own the central heating and cooling district energy plant and supply all of its thermal energy to District Energy Windsor (DEW), a division of WUC. NWW has been supplying DEW with hot water, chilled water and steam services for distribution in the district energy system since 1996.
| The first customers to connect to the DEW system and enjoy low cost heating and cooling, and contribute to the City's initiatves in reducing CO2 emissions are listed below: | |
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Casino Windsor (now Caesars Windsor) September 1997 |
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Windsor Justice Facility
January 1999 |
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245 Ouellette Ave. (Royal Bank Centre) January 2000 |
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The Art Gallery of Windsor
October 2000 |
In the spring of 2000, a peaking chiller plant was constructed on the western side of the downtown core to help augment the chilled water capacity of the Northwind plant, in anticipation of the future plans for development in that area. This chiller plant is owned and operated by District Energy Windsor and WUC.
In 2003, Northwind Windsor (NWW) sold the central district energy plant to BPC District Energy Inc. (BPC).
| Since 2005, the following customers have been connected to the district energy system: | |
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400 City Hall Square
September 2005 |
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250 Windsor Avenue
November 2005 |
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Windsor International Transit Terminal
May 2007 |
