2007-01-06_PR Comm Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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and cut electrical demand in half. Jorgensen is especially enthusiastic about the Swan Lake Recreation Centre in Manitoba. "Swan Lake is the most energy efficient rink in the world, Jorgensen claims. It utilizes all the best things in geothermal, including geothermal storage under the ice." The facility has a horizontal loop system, designed for hear recovery and thermal storage. It contains an olympic-size skating rink, hockey viewing area and five sheets of curling ice. 00000000000000 Although the cost of installing a heat -pump system is nearly double that of a conventional system, rebates can lower that difference enormously. 00000000000000 iluhuque's Gans The proposed arena in Dubuque intends to take advantage of the best technology has to offer. The arena will feature radiant heating installed in the stands of the ice rink. Hydronic beat will be used both with ventilation air and hearing coils, with "fi•ee" heat being supplied from the rink itself. An ice thermal storage system will reduce peak demand in the summer (and peak demand charges) and will reduce the tonnage of the chiller necessary to meet cooling needs, in addition, the heat from the heat pumps can be used for the ballroom adjoining the arena, reducing conventional heating system use by dumping excess heat directly into the ballroom. The use of variable frequency drives on air handlers, and the installation of people counters to determine the amount of fresh air needed to comply with public facility regulations are just two of the features proposed in the project plans. The lighting for the rink will consist of 75 foot-candles and metal -halide lamps. Other areas will use fluorescent lamps to keep the lighting load lighter than average usage. Cost Factors "It's not enough to build the arena," says Walters, it must also be affordable to use." Fortunately, the State of Iowa, with its scarce energy resources, is a strong (if conservative) promoter of energy conservation. The Iowa Energy Centre was created to promote demand-side management and the use of alternative energy sources Although the cost of installing a heat -pump system is nearly double that of a conventional system, rebates can lower that difference enormously Interstate Power Company is offering a rebate of approximately 5130,000 for the installation of the proposed ground source heat pumps and an additional $75,000 for the installation of the proposed ice thermal storage system. The Iowa Energy Centre has approved a rebate for an energy management system of $57,000. With the rebates, the cost of the ground source system would be reduced by 48%, to an after -rebate cost costs comparing conventional and heat pu€np technology with Selkirk arena as a model, indicate annual operational savings of around $20,580 with a heat pump system. That means the $32,000 difference between the conventional and heat pump system should be recouped in about 18 months. Bright future The outlook for the proposed Dubuque ice arena is bright. The decision is currently in the hands of the Board of the Dubuque County Fairgrounds. But ice rinks in Canada, Minnesota, and elsewhere are already reaping the benefits of geothermal technology that is so well suited to that use. The only thing that would be more appropriate than a geothermal ice rink would he a skating facility with a heated swimming pool. "An added swimming pool is a perfect marriage for a geothermal heat pump system and huge energy savings arc possible," predicted Greg Jorgensen.