Village of Donnelly receives grant to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Village of Donnelly were successful applicants of the Recreation Energy Conservation Funding Program through Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC).

The grant funding (totalling $25,227) allowed the Guy-Donnelly Sportex to install a deaerator designed by REALIce on the facility’s ice making system to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The REALice water treatment system for arenas eliminates the need for hot water when building and resurfacing ice. The system removes the micro-air bubbles from water without using chemicals, filters or membranes. With the ability to utilize cold water during the process, facilities will notice substantially lower utility costs annually and over the lifetime of the device.

Donnelly’s Climate Change Coordinator Emily Plihal explains the system will help reduce environmental impact and will also help to save money on energy bills.

“The Village councillors and Sportex volunteer board have been looking at ways to reduce operational costs that will also help their facility become more environmentally friendly,” says Plihal. “After installation of the deaerator system it is expected that the facility will notice a GHG emissions reduction of 45 tCO2e per year. Notably this reduces their energy consumption by an expected 43,000 kWh annually, which will save significant amounts of money spent on utilities.”

The device was installed at the arena at the beginning of August and will be utilized when the facility gets ready to open later this fall.

“MCCAC staff members were very helpful in the application process,” says Plihal. “The grants provided by MCCAC allow municipalities to invest in opportunities that they may not otherwise be able to afford. The grants provide the opportunity for municipalities in our province to make changes that help to reduce environmental impact thus mitigating climate change.”