New Ice Rink for Springhill, Nova Scotia.  In 2001, heavy snow in the Maritimes brought down the roof of the 50 year old hockey arena in Springhill, NS. Luckily, no one was hurt. Now skaters are trying out the ice in the new recreation centre built to replace it. Construction began in fall, 2003, and was completed in September, 2004.

Springhill has a long history with geothermal systems. Several businesses in the town's industrial park take advantage of the 15-20 deg. C (55-70 deg. F) water that has flooded the abandoned mine shafts beneath the town. Seeing the 60-70% energy cost savings and the comfortable heating and cooling enjoyed by the business owners, it made sense to the town council to take advantage of the energy cost savings, reduced maintenance costs and simplicity available with a geothermal ice making system.

Eight 15-hp Ice Kube fluid-to-fluid heat pumps take heat from the concrete pad below the ice surface and the patented "thermal storage buffer" beneath the ice. Heat taken from the ice warms water that is circulated directly through a radiant floor heaing system in the change rooms, lobby, and walking track, and even in the arena seats themselves. If no heat is needed, the warm fluid is circulated through a titanium frame and plate heat exchange to be rejected to water pumped from the abandoned mine shaft beneath the building

Other heat pumps connected through the well water through the heat exchanger provide heating and cooling as needed in the office and meeting rooms. The grand opening for the new facility was held September 15. The response from the town residents has been very positive, encouraging the construction of phase II, a new community hall and gymnasium.

The town received funding from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) through the Commercial Building Incentive Program, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities through the Green Enabling Fund in Green Ivestment Fund, for the innovative refrigeration/HVAC system that was chosen. The system is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 70-75%, and energy costs by over 50% compared to a conventional ice plant and heating system.

Congratulations to the Town of Springhill for their solid investment in the future!

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