Pool, rinks ‘Go Green’ to save green

Posted 11/21/13

Thayer Arena, Warburton Arena and McDermott Pool will undergo an energy efficiency makeover, leading to almost $40,000 in energy savings.

At the Nov. 13 Finance Committee meeting, Deputy Director …

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Pool, rinks ‘Go Green’ to save green

Posted

Thayer Arena, Warburton Arena and McDermott Pool will undergo an energy efficiency makeover, leading to almost $40,000 in energy savings.

At the Nov. 13 Finance Committee meeting, Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department Michael Rooney detailed his request to refit the three facilities with energy efficiency lights and variable speed drives on the pool pumps.

“We’re going to be putting new fixtures in both rinks,” said Rooney in a recent phone interview.

All 55 light fixtures inside and outside the arenas will be replaced with new bulbs and vapor tight shields. Interior lighting will utilize T8 high efficiency bulbs, while exterior lighting will use LEDs.

Rooney explained that the variable speed drives on the pool’s pump will help to save energy by not having the pump at full speed all the time.

“Right now, it’s on an on-off switch,” said Rooney, comparing that to flooring the gas pedal constantly. “The pump will work to go up and down.”

Not only will this help to save energy as the pool pumps water, but the same will be done to the system that keeps the rink’s ice frozen.

The project will be completed through National Grid’s energy efficiency program, and their project expeditor, Energy Source, will be brought in to do the work.

“They are trying to ask people to use as less energy as they can,” said Rooney.

National Grid announced last week that their energy efficiency programs save their customers $86 million in electricity and $28.2 million in natural gas costs over the 10 to 14 lifetime years of projects and programs. Those energy savings are equal to 1,288,000 megawatt hours of electricity and 3.3 million dekatherms of natural gas.

As a result of working with National Grid, they will cover a portion of the $177,458 price tag for the project.

According to Rooney, National Grid is putting $76,779 toward the project as an incentive to have the work completed. And Rooney revealed at the committee meeting that the city would not be responsible for the remaining balance.

The rest of the $100,679 will come from an EPA Showcase Grant. Rooney explained that South Kingston, East Greenwich, North Providence and Warwick were the recipients of this grant a few years ago, with Warwick named the administrator. The grant was to be used for educational and energy efficiency purposes.

Rooney points out that at no cost to the city, this project will save the city an estimated $38,968 in energy costs. He added that the three facilities are the second highest energy user in the city after the Sewer Authority.

“Anytime we can save money in that [energy] is good,” said Rooney. “Not only that, but we’re saving energy, too.”

He said this project will save 283,005 kilowatts per hour of energy per year.

Rooney believes this is not only a good decision financially and environmentally, but for the facilities themselves.

“It’s going to enhance the rink and the pool. Technology keeps moving fast,” he said, pointing out that lights will actually brighten the buildings.

The project has been approved by the City Council, and Rooney said the goal is to have it completed before the end of the year. Once the equipment is purchased, Rooney will work with Energy Source to schedule the work; he estimates the project will only take about two weeks.

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  • Michael2012

    Good stuff!

    Thursday, November 21, 2013 Report this