Development of an analysis tool for planning net-zero energy ice rink retrofits

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In Canada, over 400 municipalities have declared climate emergencies and ice rinks have been identified as a priority for energy retrofits because they consume disproportionately high amounts of energy and are valuable community hubs. The cost of retrofitting these facilities with high-efficiency systems has historically been financially prohibitive because all the required mechanical equipment would have to be replaced at one time, resulting in limited adoption. This project focuses on the development of an early-stage analysis tool for net-zero energy ice rink retrofits that are optimized and timed with the maintenance lifecycle of existing facility equipment. This tool can be applied to over 4,000 municipality-owned Canadian ice rinks, where an annual reduction of GHG emissions up to 550,000 tonnes is attainable. In addition, with only 5% market penetration, this tool is anticipated to stimulate $200 million in sustainability sector economic activity in Canada.