How to refine the Arena’s ice dressing rooms and washrooms: Some simple measures can help save water in the rink and reduce energy cost in the facility. Have you successfully incorporated some of these measures? Let us know and tell your story so that we can share it here and inspire others to take action!
Every flush at a urinal takes about 1 gallon (apx. 3.8 litres) of fresh water, given there is no other water supply such as grey water reclaimed from other parts of the building or rainwater that is used. Waterless technology for urinals is available and its primary benefit is not using water to flush. There are also low flushing urinals available that may provide additional savings over the high water use fixtures of the past. But, waterless urinals definitely take the water savings much further. Waterless urinals don’t flush, they drain by gravity. Their outflow pipes connect to a building’s existing plumbing system. Besides the water savings, with waterless urinals, no limescale is deposited within the plumbing. Deodorization is the number one maintenance issue that waterless urinals face. However, filters, urinal blocks and other deodorization methods can control how the urine is disposed of during the draining process. With waterless urinals, there is […]
Lighting occupancy sensors detect the presence or absence of users and turn lights on or off accordingly. Arenas can install occupancy sensors to control lights and ensure that the lights are off when no one is in the facility – or in specific areas in the facility (e.g. storage closets, restrooms, hallways, offices). Occupancy light sensors increase the electrical efficiency in facilities and can save 30-75% annually in lighting-energy consumption. Benefits: Ensure lights are off during times of no occupancy Savings: Electricity CO2 Web resources: Edmonton hockey arena raises the bar for sports facilities Madison Gas & Electric – Occupancy sensors
There is really no downside to dual-flush toilets. They use about 0.8 gallons (apx. 3 litres) per flush for liquid waste and the standard 1.6 gallons (apx. 6.1 litres) for solid waste. It is a concept that makes sense. An average dual-flush user flushes 4.8 gallons (apx. 18.2 litres) per day, as opposed to 8 gallons (apx. 30.3 litres) for toilets that use 3.5 gallons (apx. 13.2 litres) per flush. When you compare a dual-flush to a conventional low-flow toilet, the dual-flush uses about 25% less water. Installing a low-flow or dual-flush toilet is not anymore difficult than installing a traditional toilet. Benefits: Conserve water Savings: Water approximately 50% Web resources: Bentley University ice arena is nations most sustainable
Select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gallons (apx. 9.5 litres) per minute. This is considered standard for low flow shower heads. There are no firm definitions to what constitutes an ultra low flow shower head, but the consensus is that ultra low flow is achieved when 1.5 gallons (apx. 5.7 litres) per minute or less is used. There are two basic types of low-flow showerheads: aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating showerheads mix air with water, forming a misty spray. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to use a laminar-flow shower head because it will not create as much steam and moisture as an aerating one. Benefits: Reduce (hot) water consumption Reduced costs for chemicals and water purification Savings: Water Natural Gas CO2 Web resources: NRDC: Make every drop count
After play, users often enter the dressing room and immediately turn on the showers and let them run for extended periods while taking off their equipment. This hot water is expensive and a waste of energy. Sensor water control technology is available for arenas to control the flow of water in showers. Instead of having to shut off the water manually when it’s not actively being used, the flow pauses automatically when the user steps away. When ready to rinse, the user steps back under the shower-head, and the water flow returns immediately, at the same pressure and temperature as before, allowing for an easy reduction in water consumption in the shower. User won’t be happy with sensor driven showers if the hot water doesn’t come on fast. Therefore high efficiency water heaters and on demand water heaters play an important role when it comes to sensor driven showers. Benefits: Use less (hot) […]
Sensor driven faucets control water flow during demand and non-demand periods. Beyond that obvious benefit of water conservation, sensor driven faucets are designed to save over flow water damage. This is a big advantage in environments where people tend to leave the water running unnecessarily and where an unattended faucet can waste water and cause damage. Benefits: Hands free and easy to operate Helps to stop the spread of germs and bacteria Prevents water overflow with automatic turn off Better efficiency as they save on water usage Water temperatures can be preset to help prevent scalding injury Encourage public awareness and sustainable behaviour around water conservation Savings: Water Web resources: Kingston Invista Centre LEED certification
Electric hand-dryers offer many benefits and savings, most of which are eliminated costs associated with paper towels. Many agree that electric hand dryers offer the optimal sanitary choice for hand drying. Hand dryers are so effective and researchers such as Meers and Leong have declared, there is no bacteriological reason to exclude electric hand-dryers from clinical areas. Benefits: Environmental friendly Washroom cleanliness Zero maintenance Savings: Paper waste Reduced water used to make paper towels, reduction in chemical use Web resources: Assessment of the bacterial contamination of hand air dryer in washrooms
The most environment friendly Swiss Eco Tap the acqua saver reduces the water consumption by an incredible 90%. The water-jet produces an optimal sensation of cleanliness when washing hands and leaves a pleasant feeling on the skin. 90% less water consumption 100% energy saving due to cold water 0% energy consumption costs No costs for warm water preparation No unpleasant feeling of coldness on the skin due to a special spray technology Quick cleaning power Swiss technology