Once-Through Cooling Systems Rebates
The Case Against Once-Through Cooling Systems
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.
Replacement Options
Cost-effective options for replacing a once-through cooling system include:
- Packaged air-cooled equipment - install stand-alone air-cooled ice machines and condensing units
- Closed-loop piping - re-circulate cooling water to a remote air-cooled chiller or cooling tower, or connect to an existing closed-loop system serving another area of the building
- Split-system - use heat pumps with remote air-cooled condensers
Installation cost and subsequent payback period varies with the complexity of the system. Payback periods for small commercial systems are often as low as 1.5 years. The increased energy efficiency of more modern equipment may yield even greater savings.
Cooling Equipment Rebate Program
For industrial, commercial and institutional customers of the Greater Victoria water supply system, the CRD 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.
Please ensure that you meet all of our program requirements.
)If possible, help us reduce paper use by filling out the interactive Application Form and submitting it by email.
When you have finished installing your new equipment, please submit a Confirmation of Completion form along with your receipt of purchase and recycling receipt.
Submit forms by fax: 250.474.4012 or by mail: P.O. Box 1000 , Victoria BC, V8W 2S6. For more information, please contact the Demand Management office: 250.474.9684 or by 
email