According to Glen Stefanyshen, Winnipeg’s Superintendent of Buildings, Asset operations, and Energy management, upgrades to 11 city-operated arenas have the potential to significantly reduce energy use.
$8 million was allocated for repairs and maintenance at city-operated arenas and some community rinks as part of a multi-year plan funded by the Government of Manitoba. Of the many upgrades, Stefanyshen says the one that has caught the most attention is the new ice plant controls.
Previously, brine pumps were run continuously throughout the season, which circulated a refrigerated brine solution through pipes under the ice rink to keep it frozen. Sensors on the rink’s ceiling that sense the temperature of the ice surface have been installed, and the brine pumps can now be cycled according to demand. The energy use of the Terry Sawchuk Arena’s motor is anticipated to decrease by 40 per cent.
