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Big Canadian cities react to the ban on virgin Freon that has become effective the 1 January 2010 by opening development funds to recreational projects, focusing on the many arenas of the country that are in dire need of renovation.

The Montreal Protocol, signed by almost every country in the world and exemplary in the level of compliance, has prescribed the ban of virgin F-gases from January 2010 on and foresees a further reaching general ban from 2020 on in developed countries. Consequently, all arenas will have to be Freon-free by this time.  

Major cities and towns in Canada react to the phase-out by subsidising the renovation of local arenas which have long been neglected. Federal and provincial development funds supply money for the rebuilding of the province's 450 arenas, which are between 50 and 60 years old and use for the most part Freon R-22 to make ice.  

Money from the government

Considering the ban of Freon R-22 by 2020, Quebec tries to anticipate the worldwide progressive phase-out and at the same time reduce its carbon footprint by replacing the potent greenhouse gas refrigerant by natural and environmentally harmless refrigerants such as ammonia and CO₂ in arena refrigeration systems.

The federal government has earmarked 37 million dollars for recreational projects which are topped by 223 million dollars from the provincial governments' fund for physical development and sportive training, dedicated to schools for building and maintaining arenas and other sports facilities. This fund has already provided 34.2 million dollars for 63 arena renovations projects.

Big cities try to measure up with the regions' initiatives, e.g. Montreal has announced to spend 90 million dollars on the renovation of 15 of its 36 arenas, starting with the Henri Bourassa Arena that will get a 4 million dollar face-lift in March this year (co-financed by the government of Canada, the government of Quebec and the City of Montreal) part of which being the replacement of the arena's Freon-based refrigeration system and rink boards.

Full order books

Companies like CIMCO Refrigeration which are i.a. specialised in recreational refrigeration systems, report full order books, recording an increase from usually two arenas to rebuild per year in the Quebec area to 22 confirmed and some more pending orders over the past two years.

In addition to replacing the old refrigeration systems with new more environmentally friendly ones, arenas are likely to follow the 2005 National Arena Census, which was carried out by Hockey Canada and suggests the use of energy efficient systems, innovations like low emissive ceilings, hot water heat recovery etc.