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The Lady Beaverbrook Rink in Fredericton Canada will get an ammonia heat-recovery system in order to make the building more energy efficient. Energy savings up to 57 per cent off its hot water costs are expected from the first installation of the technology at a city arena.

According to the Canadian website the Daily Gleaner the Lady Beaverbrook Rink in the eastern province New Brunswick in Canada will be equipped with a new ammonia heat-recovery system. The Canadian engineering company Electrical and Refrigeration Services Ltd. was awarded a $61,969 (around €44,000) contract last week to supply and install the unit.

Using ammonia heat for domestic hot water system

Community services director Wayne Tallon said that the ammonia system would be the first installation of the technology at a city arena in Canada. “The city hopes to trim 46 to 57 per cent off its hot water costs at the arena by using the system,” he adds.

The Daily Gleaner explains that in the ice-making process, ammonia is compressed, heated and then cooled via evaporators in a closed loop cycle. The heat-recovery system will extract heat from the ammonia before it gets cooled and transfer that heat to the domestic hot water system.

"By preheating the water, we will save energy and also conserve water required to cool the ammonia. It's a win-win situation," said Councillor Scott McConaghy, chairman of the city's public safety and environment committee. "The preheated water will be fed to the natural gas boiler at the rink, which will then use less energy to bring the hot water up to the required temperature."

About Lady Beaverbrook Arena

Opened in 1954 and refurbished in 2007, the Lady Beaverbrook Arena of Fredericton, in the province New Brunswick is an indoor rink and open year round and situated at Canada’s east coast. With a seating capacity of 1300, this 82ft x 190ft (around 25m x 58m) ice surface is primarily used for hockey, figure skating, ringette and speed skating.