DESPITE a few concerns from district council, a West Vancouver home on Seaside Place won the right to install an underwater geothermal heating system Monday night.
The heat pump would be installed approximately 75 metres below the floor of the Burrard Inlet, an approach that concerned Coun. Craig Cameron.
"I would strongly support having a testing period," Cameron said. "I am . . . a little bit worried about, first of all, the fact that you're pumping refrigerant into the ocean."
Engineers from Foreshore Technologies and representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada are scheduled to oversee the system's installation.
"We really don't have the expertise in-house necessary to review this type of proposal," said director of planning, lands, and permits Bob Sokol.
Three more West Vancouver applicants are hoping to install similar heating systems, according to Sokol.
"If there's any damage, that shouldn't be part of the district's costs," said Coun. Bill Soprovich, stressing that the homeowner should pay for any beach damage.
The homeowner will be willing to pay for any damage as well as allowing inspections, according to Craig Smith, a project manager for Hollingsworth Architecture, the company slated to handle the installation. Smith spoke on behalf of the homeowner and addressed council's questions.
"It's a tremendous investment with a very long payback period," Smith said of the underwater system.
Coun. Mary-Ann Booth, who has a geothermal heating system in her front yard, asked why the homeowner chose ocean-thermal technology.
"It's difficult to drill in a lot of the areas of West Vancouver due to rock," Smith said. "Your best medium of heat-transfer is water."
Drilling underwater is also less costly than drilling on land, according to Smith.
The project manager assured council the neighbours would be informed before the black pipe is installed, which would be accomplished with divers working off a barge.
"I look at it a little bit like a pilot project," said Coun. Trish Panz. "I'm a big supporter of clean energy."
Installation is scheduled to take place Feb. 23.
