Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.
(ID 51144784 © Julie Feinstein | Dreamstime.com)
$3.9M FEDERAL INVESTMENT

Recreational buildings in Olds and Foothills County taking steps to become more energy efficient

Aug 23, 2024 | 1:20 PM

The Town of Olds Aquatic Centre and the Scott Seaman Sports Rink in Foothills County will become more energy efficient after an investment of $3.9 million from the federal government.

The federal funding comes from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program, and the Town of Olds is contributing $400,000.

“The upgrades to the Olds Aquatic Centre are a significant investment in the future of our community,” says Olds Mayor Judy Dahl. “By enhancing the energy efficiency and extending the life of this essential community facility, we are reducing our environmental impact and ensuring that families in Olds continue to have a safe, modern space for recreation and wellness for many years to come.”

Upgrades to the Olds Aquatic Centre are expected to add another 20 years to the lifespan of the existing facility with the installation of new high efficiency boilers, upgrades to existing air handling units to improve ventilation, and new hot water plumbing. The roof and windows will also be replaced.

The Scott Seamen Sports Rink will see major upgrades to its heating and power systems, and funding will support the installation of rooftop solar panels which should result in energy and cost savings.

“Foothills County is very appreciative of the substantial financial contribution of GICB towards this Energy Conservation and GHG reduction project at Scott Seaman Sports Rink,” said Delilah Miller, reeve of Foothills County. “We will continue to strive to reduce our carbon footprint and look forward to the cost savings projects like these will provide.”

These enhancements are expected to reduce the Olds Aquatic Centre’s energy consumption by an estimated 63.4 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 432 tonnes annually. The Scott Seaman Sports Rink’s energy consumption is expected to be reduced by an estimated 21.6 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 385 tonnes annually.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter by visiting rdnewsNOW.com. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app on Google Play and the Apple App Store for all the latest updates on this and other stories.