Pacific Sands Beach Resort is located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, just a few kilometres from the world-famous Pacific Rim National Park.

 

In the last 20+ years since Dave Pettinger took over the resort management, he has expanded Pacific Sands Beach Resort from 17 cottage and lodge units to 77 villas and suites along with a major Guest Services Lodge building upgrade. In 2002 Dave added 22 luxury oceanfront suites incorporating North America’s first combined district potable water HVAC system.

 

“Methods of construction that offered ecological benefit to the resort were embraced on many levels in the major addition that started in 2002. With respect to the mechanical systems, this meant low flush toilets were used exclusively throughout the units and of course the total reliance on the geothermal heating system.”  (Modified from Adam Buskard’s article Pacific Sands Eco-Development).

 

The mechanical design and GeoExchange solution were provided by TRAK Canada. “TRAK Canada of Kelowna, B.C. did the engineering, project management and GeoExchange duties. Features in the mechanical package include radiant in-floor heating, increased ventilation rates, space cooling and “instantaneous” and virtually unlimited hot and cold water at the taps.” (From BC hydro’s technical case study GeoExchange Boost’s West Coast Resort’s Bottom Line).

 

No mechanical noise is heard in the suites as all compressors and major circulators are located in a remote central mechanical plant.