How to Optimize an Arena’s Building Operations: Some simple measures can go a long way to successfully optimize your building operation’s and reduce your energy spending. 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!
Lights are one of the ice rink’s largest electricity consumers. Keeping the lights on in the facility when it is empty, consumes energy which could be avoided by allowing staff to control the lights in the arena. The lights generate heat, that needs to be removed by the refrigeration system to maintain good ice. Arenas can increase efficiency by giving staff control of the lighting. Therefore if on/off toggles are in use to operate the lights, consider making them key-controlled light switches. Beyond staff controlling some of the main lights, occupancy sensors can be installed in area locations such as storage rooms, restrooms, back offices, and hallways. That includes the facility’s dressing rooms for example operated with the sensors that have a generous 30-minute window to automatically switch off after no activity is detected. The amount of energy consumed or wasted depends on what kind of light is left on. A “normal” incandescent bulb costs […]
The scope of the world’s plastic problem is huge: it is estimated that up to 129 million tons (43%) of the plastic used per year is disposed of by landfill or incineration, and approximately 10 – 20 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans. The vast majority of these plastics today will never break down. Petroleum plastics may degrade into smaller pieces, but most won’t decompose or be absorbed by the surrounding environment. If you run a concession stand in your facility think about the amount of single-use plastics can be reduced or how the plastic packing could be replaced by durable bioplastics made from plant materials. This way energy and materials are conserved. Benefits: Reduce the amount of plastic that ends up being incinerated, remains in landfill, or pollutes oceans. Savings: Petroleum resource needed to make plastic Energy used to make the plastic Web resources: How sustainable are biodegradable and […]
Introducing a waste management system in the facility helps divert recyclable waste from going into the landfill. If plastic, for example can be re-used, it will reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials. This in turn reduces energy used, air pollution from the incineration and water pollution from going into lands. Recycling is a key method to reduce waste. Compost bins could be added for arena users to compost food and paper waste. Benefits: Diverting recyclable material from landfills Savings: Greenhouse gases Plastic and paper waste
Eco friendly cleaning alternatives with environmentally friendly ingredients are designed to preserve human health and environmental quality and will improve the well-being of the staff and patrons of the facility. Using green cleaning products will help avoid the use of products which contain toxic chemicals, some of which emit volatile organic compounds causing respiratory, dermatological and other conditions. Cleaning agents can be bioactive with consequences ranging from mild to severe. Green cleaning is an approach to redress or address the problems associated with traditional cleaning agents and lessen the environmental impacts. Conventional cleaning products pose risks such as chemical burns to the cleaner’s skin and eyes. Green cleaners aren’t corrosive and meet strict standards regarding inhalation toxicity, combustibility and skin absorption and thus are safer to use. Benefits: Environment of arena Safer to use Better air quality / less pollution Savings: Less chemicals used and applied in arena Short and long term health risks from exposure
On a cold day, one of the desired spots for spectators in an arena is beneath the bleacher heaters. Overhead Heaters offer a bit of comfort, at least for the upper body parts while watching the game. Heaters above the bleachers are still featured at many ice arenas and in many cases run all the time. Sometimes they are turned on first thing in the morning, run all day and occasionally the crew will forget to shut them off and they run all night. Taking these heaters out might be a hard sell for the fans, especially if it is mid-season. Another solution however is to consider operating them on coin-operated timers. Charging a dollar or even two to watch a game might make a big difference to the energy spent. Patrons can use their coins to pay to turn bleacher heaters. This might make some patrons think twice about turning […]
Humidity has a big impact on the quality of the ice and on the energy consumed in an arena. A high level of humidity provides a rugged surface with a lot of snow production when in contact with the sharp blades of a skate. Optimal humidity is in the range of 50-55%, this is especially important when you have a large crowd that often contributes to an increased humidity level. Humidity enters an ice rink with incoming ventilation air, the opening of doors, from the use of showers, and through the normal respiration of the people within the building. Arena operators consider factors such as the temperature and moisture outside, the expected event crowd and what time the game begins. Excessive humidity in the condensing moisture, releases a tremendous amount of heat into the ice surface. This heat must be removed by operating the refrigeration equipment for longer than would normally be […]
Water is important when it comes to good health. Drinking an adequate supply of clean drinking water daily is crucial to helping your body function properly. Purchasing plastic bottled water is on the rise and this is taking its toll on the environment with vast amounts of plastic waste ending up in landfill, waterways and oceans. This is an environmental hazard with plastic bottles taking hundreds of years to biodegrade. Ice arenas can help promote sustainability by encouraging the public to refill reusable bottles as an alternative to purchasing bottled water on their bottle filling stations and drinking fountains. Those stations and fountains are ideal to provide convenient hydration with a rapid fill of filtered water to quench thirst. The best part is that they dramatically reduce the dependency on single-use plastics also reducing the amount of plastic waste going to landfill. Benefits: Reduce single-use plastic waste Savings: Plastic going to landfills, waterways […]
To keep the spectators comfortable, the inside air temperature is set between 55° and 60° Fahrenheit (F) in many rinks (apx. 12°-15° Celsius). Inside air temperature has a great effect on the ice plant because the ice will melt faster at higher ambient temperatures. Reducing the settings for the inside air temperature from 60°F (apx. 15.6°C) to about 40°F (apx. 4.4°C) can have a drastic effect on energy spent in the facility. Ensure walls and ceiling are insulated properly to better control the indoor climate. Benefits: Reduced energy cost Savings: Electricity CO2 We resources: Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality in Arenas
Arenas can appoint an internal representative to research, analyze and implement effective programs and operations processes to create greener arenas. Internal Energy Managers can assess current policies (e.g. recycling) and collaborate with stakeholders (e.g. utilities, local governments, user groups and environmental professionals, etc.) to make suggestions for sustainable green initiatives at their arena and can help to tap in into funding sources for efficiency upgrade equipment. Energy Managers can use information systems to track, manage, benchmark, and report energy, water, waste, emissions and other sustainability data. Information systems can be installed that include automated data exchange services that synchronizes utility and building data directly with the Energy Manager’s portfolio. Information systems enhance long-term value by increasing arena occupancy and revenue, reduce the risk of obsolescence, and strengthening user loyalty, all while reducing emissions to protect the environment. Benefits: Dedicated person that looks at the whole facility to leverage initiatives and reach […]
Arenas can use recycled water to make ice and for their cooling towers and lessen the demand on the local water source.
Both live and dead rodents can spread infectious diseases and parasites. While rodenticides are an efficient means of rodent control, there are a number of alternative methods of control rather than poisonous chemicals. Every method chosen needs to be backed up with prevention measures to deny rats and mice food and access to shelter, making sure they cannot return. In choosing a rodent control method this should be considered: the scale of the infestation; the competence of the person carrying out the job; the risks to other people, pets and wildlife. Benefits: Poison-free rodent control Money savings Savings: Chemical savings Web resources: BC Government: Managing Rodent Pests Health Link BC – Getting rid of rodents Humane Solutions CatchData Reports
Despite having already traveled tens of thousands of kilometers on a car, recycled rubber is given new life as it is transformed into an ever-growing number of innovative products. Floor mats made from reclaimed rubber can be used to stop slips in the common areas of skating arenas. Benefits: Durable recycled tire rubber doesn’t harden or crack when the temperature dips Using recycled material offers a viable way to dispose of rubber products Savings: Cost savings Conserves non-renewable petroleum Less energy used in the production process, Web resources: Re-think tires: Coming to an ice rink near you
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