Green Municipal Fund Commits $60,000 To the Town of Smithers To Improve Energy Efficency in Recreational Facilities

FCM President Gord Steeves and the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, announced today a $60,000 Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant for the Town of Smithers to conduct an energy efficiency feasibility study of its existing public recreational facilities. The Smithers Arena, erected in 1957, currently sits between the adjacent Bulkey Valley Regional District Pool and Racquet Courts and the Smithers Curling Club. The study will evaluate energy saving and water conservation opportunities associated with the retrofit of the three existing facilities and the construction of an additional ice surface.

“Canadians want to see real results. Through the Green Municipal Fund, Canada’s new government is helping municipalities across the country deliver results,” said the Honourable Gary Lunn. “With projects like this and the recently announced $300 million ecoENERGY Efficiency Initiative, we are demonstrating our commitment to the health and environment of all Canadians.”

“FCM’s Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments and their partners,” said FCM President Gord Steeves. “The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.”

The Government of Canada has endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $550 million to establish and manage the Green Municipal Fund. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

“Based on preliminary estimates, we expect that a new energy efficient ice rink, along with retrofits and system upgrades to existing buildings, could reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent or more and decrease total energy use of existing facilities by 50 percent,” said Mayor James A. Davidson.

The energy study will provide recommendations and cost estimates for energy efficiency improvements that use the most efficient technologies and systems available. These include providing the existing arena and proposed second sheet of ice with high efficiency lighting, optimized and automated system operations, infrared sensor ice temperature control, integration of refrigeration systems with heating and ventilation, seasonal heat and cold storage, and radiant heating as well as a heat recovery system for the heating requirements of the nearby Bulkey Valley Regional District Pool and Racquet Courts and the adjacent Smithers Curling Club.