The Regional District of Nanaimo says it has received $20,000 for a retrofit project from the provincial government's Community Energy Leadership Program (CELP).
The funding will support an arena energy efficiency retrofit at Parksville's Oceanside Place Arena, a facility owned and operated by the RDN, according to a news release from the provincial government.
A heat reclaim system will be installed to take extra heat produced during refrigeration of the ice surface and use it to heat the water supply for the building. Each year, this will reduce energy demand by 940 gigajoules, save $8,700 in operational costs and reduce their carbon footprint by 45 tonnes.
"Oceanside Place Arena is a recreational hub for the entire community; and it's great to see the facility receive this energy saving retrofit," said Parkville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell. "Whenever you get the opportunity to save money and at the same time reduce a community's carbon footprint, it's a win-win for taxpayers and residents."
"This is an excellent example of a project that will give back to the community in so many ways," said RDN Chair Joe Stanhope. "With the CELP funding we will be able to save taxpayer dollars, reduce the building's environmental impact and continue to provide the community with a wonderful facility."
— NEWS Staff/B.C. gov't news release