Outdoor Ice Oval Refrigeration Briefing Note Prepared by Kathy Lewis and Angus McDonald

Transcription

1 Outdoor Ice Oval Refrigeration Briefing Note Prepared by Kathy Lewis and Angus McDonald Background There has been an outdoor ice oval in Prince George for several decades. In the early years it was located in what is now the CN Centre parking lot, and was maintained inconsistently by a few volunteers. With the construction of the CN Centre, the oval was physically moved to Exhibition Park, and became operational under the umbrella of the Prince George Iceman Society. In 2007, the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George was established in conjunction with the move to its current, hopefully permanent location. This move included excavation of the oval area and development of a surrounding berm (to reduce wind effects on the ice and skaters) enclosed by a chain link fence. A small equipment storage shed built by the Society in 2010 was financed largely by donations ($10,500) and built with volunteer labour. Various operating models were tried over the years, including maintenance by a few volunteers and donations from skaters, and a model with volunteer ice makers, paid monitors and required entrance fees. Over the past decade, the society has settled on a very successful operating model that involves a formal agreement with the City of Prince George, an organized and trained group of volunteer ice makers, and a required user fee collected on the honour system, that includes day use fees and seasonal pass options. The 2015 Canada Winter Games resulted in additions to the oval infrastructure. An approximately 2000 square foot service building (Prince George Construction Association Ice Oval Centre) was constructed as a legacy of the Games. This building has an equipment bay that houses the society s water truck, bobcats (2), Zamboni, and other equipment. It has on demand hot water for the Zamboni. It also has a separate area housing washrooms, an office and space for officials during meets. The Prince George Construction Association and Northern Development and Initiative Trust, were contributors to the building as well as the Games society. The Games legacy also included installation of 4 stand pipes around the oval for early season ice making with fire hoses. In addition, Canfor donated the cabin placed at the Games Plaza to showcase Canfor building materials during the Games. The oval society coordinated and funded moving the cabin onto an engineered foundation, also donated by Canfor. The Society completed the work on the building, adding wiring, lighting, insulation and all finishing. This building (Canfor House) is open to the public whenever the oval is open and is used as a change facility and warming hut. Canfor donated benches and picnic tables as well. The addition of these two buildings has had profound positive impacts on the oval and its use. The service building makes ice making and ice surface maintenance easier, faster and more efficient. This change has had a direct impact on volunteer satisfaction and will significantly improve our ability to recruit and retain volunteers in the future. Canfor House has significantly enhanced the public s skating experience, by providing a warm and dry location for changing into skates and for warming up on particularly cold days. The daily use of the oval increased tremendously this past year as a direct result of Canfor House. Table 1 shows statistics on skater numbers over the past several years. Two trends in the data are evident. One is that there has been a general decline in number of days open, which corresponds with data seen in Figure 1 indicating a general increase in winter temperatures. The second is as mentioned above, that daily use of the oval took a significant jump with the addition of the Canfor House. Late in this past year, the oval society, in collaboration with the Prince George Speed Skating Club, began a skate rental program which was very successful and is expected to lead to increased usage of the oval next year. 1

2 Table 1. Skater statistics Year Number of skate visitors Days open Average skaters/day * Not kept due to CWG * 16 days below 20 C 4 Winter Maximum Temperature (C) Year Figure 1. Maximum winter temperatures 1960 to Year 2010 and 2011 missing. Dashed line shows regression based trend over time. The outdoor oval has seen significant increases in usage, has tremendous support from the Prince George and surrounding communities, has a solid group of dedicated volunteers, and has facilities that contribute greatly to the volunteer and skater experience. However, use of this facility is seriously and negatively impacted by weather related in season closures, and reduction in season length. These closures could be reduced or eliminated, and a longer season could be obtained through refrigeration. Refrigeration, and the resultant certainty of ice and ice quality during the skating season, is the single most priority moving forward for the Outdoor Ice Oval Society, which has as its mission: To promote a healthy, active lifestyle, through the provision and maintenance of the outdoor ice oval for recreational skating at all ages. To enable the development of athletes at all levels including recreational, novice and high performance. (OIO Strategic Plan) 2

3 Potential for hosting events and economic impact One of the advantages that Prince George held over Kamloops and Kelowna in the bid for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, was the existence of the outdoor ice oval. The Canada Winter Games brought enormous economic benefits to Prince George, estimated at $37.3 million in net economic impact (Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance). However, weather conditions during the Games resulted in only one day of racing held at the outdoor oval in Prince George. The remainder of the long track speed skating event was moved to Ft. St. John which has an indoor ice oval. In 2015, the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating club was awarded the BC Long Track Championships, to be held in January However, in late November 2015, the decision was made by the BC Speed Skating Association, to move the event to Ft. St. John due to concerns about reliability of the natural ice in Prince George. As this event is the qualifier for the Canadian Age Class Championships, it is uncertain if Prince George will ever be able to host the BC Long Track Championships, or any other Provincial or National meet without refrigeration to ensure there will be skateable ice. The following is a list and brief description of some of the events that Prince George could host if our ice was reliable. BC Long Track Championships has masters and youth to Junior divisions. For L2T and T2T skaters (age 11 15) this is the qualifying event for the Canadian Age Class Championships. The event usually attracts skaters, most from out of town. The meet is held over 2 days and includes a banquet. Canadian Age Class Championships is a national competition primarily for L2T and T2T competitors across Canada. It involves over 120 athletes, usually 2 coaches from each Province, numerous officials and volunteers. Races are held over 2 days with a practice day at the beginning of the meet. Canada Cup The Canada Cup is a series of single distance competitions (4 competitons) for Senior and Junior (up to age 19) athletes that are held across Canada. These are selection events for national and international competitions and contribute to athlete ranking. Over 100 athletes participate, and numerous coaches, officials and other volunteers. The meets take place over 3 days. Canadian Junior Championships is the national championship meet for Junior age athletes. This meet takes place over 3 4 days. Canadian Single Distance Long Track Championships is the national championship meet for junior and senior age athletes (20 and older). World Masters Championships has been commonly held on outdoor ice and attracts masters skaters from all over the world. Economic impact analysis of the 2012 Canadian Masters Championship and Canadian Age Class Championships (total number of skaters = 87) held in Ft. St. John demonstrated that The combined spending of participants, family members and others at the 2012 Canadian Masters Championships, plus the operational made by the organizers of the event reached $36,500 and generated a net economic activity (GDP) of $39,900 throughout the Province of B.C., with $22,700 occurring in the City of Fort St. John. Furthermore, the spending associated with the event supported $23,700 in wages and salaries in the Province through the support of 0.5 jobs, of which 0.4 were in Fort St. John. Overall, the event generated $77,400 in economic activity in the Province of B.C. with $49,800 occurring in the City of Fort St. John (Table 4.1). Considerable tax revenues were also produced by the event, totalling $16,700. The 3

4 event supported federal government tax revenues of $7,400 while an additional $5,800 in taxes accrued to the Province of B.C. Moreover, $3,500 in municipal taxes, licences and permits were supported in B.C. municipalities, of which $2,700 accrued in Fort St. John. 1 An economic analysis of the 2011 World Allround Speed Skating Championships held in Calgary, Alberta, found the following region only (a subset of Provincial impacts) economic impact 2 : Direct visitor spending and event operational expenditures attributed to hosting the 2011 World allround Speed Skating Championships was approximately $1.04 million in 2011 dollars These expenditures resulted in an economic impact (value added) of $852,580 in the Calgary Region A total of 14.5 person years of employment equivalent were generated in Calgary region only by expenditures attributed to the event Approximately $336,000 in total taxation revenues accrued to all three levels of government as a result of the Calgary region only Impacts. Of this, there was: o $220,400 to the federal government o $86,400 to the provincial government o $29,920 to local governments, province wide Recreational and competitive sport opportunities and synergies The outdoor ice oval and the area it occupies is currently a single use facility that operates whenever the weather is cold enough, and is limited to the period of late November or early December to late February to early March. New opportunities for partnerships and extended use would be available with refrigeration and a cement surface. Speed skate training, and recreational/competitive in line skating With refrigeration pipes built into a cement pad, the oval could be used in spring, summer and fall for inline skating. This would be of significant benefit to the local and surrounding speed skating clubs for training in a safe environment. Current in line training is in parking lots or on roads, with risk of vehicle collisions. Recreational in line (roller) skating is also a popular summer activity for individuals and families, and again the oval would provide a safe environment for this activity. Partnership with Caledonia Nordics summer use The Caledonia Nordics Ski Club is also very interested in off season use of the oval for cross training, with in line skates and roller skis. That club also is looking for a safe environment for skiers to train in summer. Letter of support in separate package. Potential Training Centre The ability to have reliable and high quality ice in the winter for long track speed skating is the foundation for development of Prince George as a training centre for developing speed skaters. As it stands now, skaters wishing to qualify for the national team are forced into moving to Calgary, often before completing highschool. Prince George is already home to one of the few Olympic sized ice arenas in BC, the Kin 1 Arena. This facility, combined with a refrigerated oval and the opportunity for postsecondary education, could lay the foundation for Prince George to become a destination training 1 Economic Impact Assessment, 2012 Canadian Open Masters and Age Class Long Track Speed Skating Championships. Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance report. 2 Economic Impact Report, 2011 World Allround Speed Skating Championships. Infact Research and Consulting Inc. 4

5 centre for speed skaters. At recent Canadian Age Class Long Track competitions, top finishers in all age categories came from communities where there is an oval with reliable ice (Ft. St. John, Calgary, Saskatoon, Quebec). The BC Speed Skating Association has developed an Academy for Canada Winter Games eligible athletes based out of Richmond. The Academy has expanded into other communities in BC, including Prince George, because of our Olympic size indoor ice arena. With a refrigerated oval, this program would likely be expanded to include long track training as well as short track. Letters of support in separate package. Outdoor Ice ovals in Canada Currently there are only four indoor long track ovals in North America, with one in Ft. St. John, one in Calgary Alberta, and two in the United States. In Canada, there are a number of outdoor ovals as listed below, and only one of them, in Quebec, is refrigerated: Prince George BC 400m oval, nationally sanctioned for Canada Winter Games, natural ice. Operated by Outdoor Ice Oval Society with $15,000 annual contribution from City of Prince George, and user fees. Ice establishment and maintenance totally volunteer run. Speed skate rentals available on weekends, also operated by volunteers. Partnership with Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club for training and hosting of meets. Edmonton AB Natural ice, but looking into a rollout refrigeration system which would be installed each season. Cost of purchase of system approximately $645K, with an annual installation and dismantling fee of $31K. Normal season with natural ice is late November/early December until early March. Hundreds of daily skaters, into the thousands on nice weekends. They have a new pavilion that was a partnership between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Speed Skating Association (ESSA). This includes a change area, washrooms, mechanical room and garage for city water truck and ESSA Zamboni. ESSA receives a grant each year from the City for $15,000. The City builds the ice, maintains ice and plows snow. The City installs finish and start lines, and curve dots, and operates the entire facility. The ESSA does fine ice resurfacing on scheduled times using volunteer Zamboni drivers. The ESSA also pays the City for exclusive use of the ice at $30/hour for speed skate practice. Saskatoon, SK Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval Natural ice. Ice is established by City of Saskatoon, with assistance from speed skating club volunteers. Ice maintenance is completely done by the City. The Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club pays $2000 per year for use of the ice (exclusive during practice). Public skating is free. There is an oval common area with change rooms, washrooms and warm up area. Winnipeg MB Susan Auch Oval. Used by Manitoba speed skating clubs and the Provincial team. Natural ice, fully established and maintained by City of Winnipeg. Adjacent to Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex which provides change and washroom facilities. Lakefield ON Natural ice, maintained by volunteers, with some sponsorship, free public skating, club practices. Has had difficulty staying open with warmer weather conditions. Ste Foy Quebec Refrigerated oval, home of Quebec Provincial team. Established and maintained by City, fees charged for practice ice and public skating. This is the only artificial ice oval in eastern Canada, and the only outside artificial oval in Canada. 5

6 Halifax, NS Established for the Halifax Canada Winter Games (2011), this oval was originally planned to be only temporary for the Games, but due to its popularity, it has been converted to a permanent facility. The refrigerated oval has a concrete pad, and a new $2.5 million Pavilion. It is entirely maintained and operated by the City of Halifax Refrigeration Plant Options and Cost Estimates The Outdoor Ice Oval Society has obtained three estimates from companies who install refrigeration in ice rinks and ovals. Table 2 shows a summary of these cost estimates. In all cases, the estimates include refrigeration pipes installed in a concrete pad, providing an opportunity for summer 4 season use with in line skates and roller skis. 6

7 Table 2. Cost estimates for capital project Option No. Item Description Company Cost 1 Tubing and refrigeration (air cooled chillers) Custom Ice 1,650,000 Concrete forming (grade, insulation, rebar, Norske Construction (PG) 490,200 forms Concrete (3/8 aggregate, 32mpa) Rolling Mix (PG) 184,000 Install 20 vertical drains around exterior and Big Bear Wood (PG) 96,000 slope Refrigeration building 200,000 Electrical Service 100,000 TOTAL Custom Ice 2,720,200 2 Tubing and refrigeration (NH3 plant) Fraser Valley Refrigeration 1,310,000 Oval surface and piping Fraser Valley Refrigeration 800,000 Concrete forming (grade, insulation, rebar, Norske Construction (PG) 490,200 forms Concrete (3/8 aggregate, 32mpa) Rolling Mix (PG) 184,000 Install 20 vertical drains around exterior and Big Bear Wood (PG) 96,000 slope Refrigeration building 400,000 Electrical Service 100,000 TOTAL Fraser Valley 3,380,200 3 Tubing and refrigeration (NH3 plant) CIMCO 2,660,000 Cooling floor CIMCO 500,000 Concrete floor CIMCO 96,000 Install 20 vertical drains around exterior and Big Bear Wood (PG) 96,000 slope Refrigeration building 400,000 Electrical Service 100,000 TOTAL CIMCO 5,206,000 Custom Ice did the Halifax oval Fraser Valley has built all of the City of Prince George refrigeration plants CIMCO did the Richmond oval Seasonal Energy Cost Estimates We also investigated cost of running the refrigeration system and a number of options to reduce seasonal energy cost requirements. Electrical energy is needed to power the chillers and pumps. We obtained estimates from Clean Energy Consulting Inc. on the number of hours the ice system would have been required each year since 2010 (Table 3). This was based on the system being engaged when temperatures were between 2 and +8. 7

8 Table 3. Hours required for refrigeration system to operate (between 2 and +8C). Does not include hours above 8C. Calendar Year Total Hours between 2 and +8C Jan Feb March Nov Dec Na Na Table 4. Total hours system required per season, based on Nov. 15 March 15 season. Season Total Hours Ice System Required Total Hours in Period % Time Ice System is needed % % % % % % Estimated energy requirements for operation of the refrigeration system, including 6 chillers and 3 pumps, is 1170 amps. At 600 volts this is watts, or 702 kw. At a rate of $0.0797/kWhour, total energy cost for 1000 hours of operation is $55, Actual energy costs will vary with weather during the season, and season length could be limited to reduce energy costs if necessary. The OIO investigated the use of geoexchange systems as an energy source, but given that the temperature required for freezing the oval surface is less than that stored in the earth, very expensive heat exchangers would be necessary and we were advised against this by Clean Energy Consulting. However, there is an opportunity to recover heat, and potentially store heat, from the refrigeration system, which can then be used by OIO buildings and City facilities. Recovery of Heat potential uses and costs Based on historical temperatures from 2010 to 2016, there are approximately 1000 hours during the season that the system would need to operate. During this time, approximately 2,500GJ of usable heat would be generated. If the system continued to operate at minimum levels during the remaining hours of the season, an additional 5,000 GJ of heat energy will be generated, for a total of 7,500 GJ potential off set of natural gas consumption by surrounding buildings. 8

9 Option 1. Eco Chill, low temperature heat recovery system. This is a system supplied by CIMCO and capital cost is $200,000. The heat recovered by this system does not match temperature requirements of heating systems at the CN or Kin Centres. The temperature of heat recovered does match the requirements to preheat water and air at the Aquatic Centre. A rough estimate of energy savings is a 60% reduction in natural gas consumption by the Aquatic Centre when the oval refrigeration system is running, and approximately 420t CO2 emission reduction based on 33% gas savings (higher if more natural gas consumption off set). However, estimated capital costs of running piping to the Aquatic Centre is fairly high. The heat recovered by the Eco Chill system could also be used internally at the oval for an in floor heating system in a new change room building (at some point would be needed for hosting large meets), or with configuration changes, could be used to pre heat water for the Zamboni or potentially for heating the equipment building (currently uses natural gas radiant heaters). Any new buildings, or snow melt facilities from winter snow removal, planned for the area could be designed to take advantage of the heat recovery system from the oval refrigeration. Option 2. Eco Chill plus Geoexchange thermal storage system. The inherent problem with a heat recovery system from an ice oval refrigeration system, is that the refrigeration system would not be running, or would running at a very low rate during cold periods, which is when the demand for heat is greatest. The area beneath the oval could be used as large heat storage facility that would compensate for variations between heat production and demands of heat users. The same issues with temperature requirements for the available heat would exist as described above, making the Aquatic Centre the most compatible user, with Kin and CN centres requiring heat exchangers. Rough estimate of capital cost for a geoexchange system is $1.5 million. For off season heating, the geoexchange system could be designed to factor in times during the year when buildings need heat and the oval is closed and not rejecting heat into the ground. It is also possible that the system could be designed to cool buildings in the heat of the summer. Summary The cheapest option in the short term is to install refrigeration with no heat recovery system. Looking to the future, at the time of doing the work to install refrigeration, it would be possible to install the geoexchange system under the oval, so that energy storage capacity is available for future use. Over time the City could invest in integration of the heat sources with demand from City facilities, with the benefit of reductions in natural gas costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The Eco Chill option is a relatively low capital investment that could recover heat to be used at the existing or future oval buildings, and with additional cost of heat delivery systems, could be used at the Aquatic Centre. Recommended Supplier Based on our research, the OIO Society recommends the system supplied and installed by Fraser Valley. This company has been Prince George s choice for refrigeration in ice arenas, leading to easier maintenance, standardized parts. Custom Ice capital cost is lower, but the energy costs to run the plant are higher, and the system is more difficult to maintain. 9