Trail Memorial Centre harnesses expended heat into energy savings

City of Trail’s energy overhaul to save taxpayers $19,500 annually

The City of Trail is turning up the heat on energy savings with a cutting-edge project that’s harnessing the excess heat from the Trail Memorial Centre’s ice rinks and transforming it into a valuable resource.

The HVAC Recovery Project will replace and upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems within the Trail Memorial Centre by integrating the HVAC with the building’s boiler and refrigeration systems, resulting in major reductions in electrical and natural gas consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the complex’s operational costs. Once all measures are implemented, taxpayer costs are estimated to be reduced by $19,500 per year.

“Our recreation facilities are key community assets,” says David Moorhead, Acting Director. “The Trail Memorial Centre, home to the Trail Smoke Eaters, minor hockey, figure skating, and many other user groups, is 75 years old. Keeping its historic structure intact while bringing it into the 21st century with a focus on climate resilience is vital. We’re updating the facility to meet today’s environmental standards and ensuring it continues to serve the community without putting extra pressure on our funding streams.”

The Trail Memorial Centre operates three ice surfaces — the Cominco Arena, the Kids Rink, and the Curling Rink — which requires the refrigeration plant to run almost 365 days a year. This process generates a substantial amount of heat as a byproduct, which is traditionally released into the atmosphere and wasted. The two-year project will set up a framework that captures this excess heat and redirects it through a series of heat exchangers, powering the HVAC and domestic hot water systems.

Phase 2’s main heat recovery project, currently underway and expected to be completed in late 2025, includes installing 11 new rooftop units (RTUs) and connecting them to the new system. The heat recovery work is being completed by Midwest Mechanical Ltd, while the floor replacement work will be done by Reward Construction Ltd. The excess heat generated by the plant will be used to preheat domestic hot water and boiler water used by the RTUs for space heating. During the summer months, when the plant is off, heat will be extracted from the air for cooling demands. This is estimated to save 6,064 Gj of natural gas and 284,605 kWh of electricity per year.

“To put this into perspective, the natural gas savings will result in an annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 301 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to removing 65 gasoline vehicles from the road,” says Moorhead. “The existing dehumidifier and RTUs were nearing the end of their lives and would’ve required replacement regardless, so that was an additional incentive.”

The Cominco Arena concourse will be closed from May through early October to preserve public safety, and parking at the rear of the facility will be disrupted to allow material and equipment access. Ice bookings will also be affected until project completion.

The two-year project is estimated to cost $5.6 million, enabled by a $2.5 million grant from CleanBC Communities Fund, part of the federal government's Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. FortisBC also contributed to the project, subsidizing an energy report under their Energy Efficiency Consumption Program, which outlined key components needed to successfully execute the work, and by providing incentive funding. The City also received a generous $100,000 donation from the Vancouver Canucks and LiUNA Local 1611 for these game-changing renovations to the arena.

“The upgrades we have planned for the Trail Memorial Centre will preserve its status as a premier venue for hockey and other events—a legacy which is well worth the city’s investment,” says City of Trail Mayor Colleen Jones. “We are very grateful for the contributions and community support.”

Moorhead adds this investment will make the Trail Memorial Centre one of the most energy-efficient arenas in North America and demonstrates the critical role that partnerships can play in reducing environmental impacts.

“Through our multi-million dollar investments in the TMC with our valued partners, we’ve ensured that this facility will become a lasting cornerstone asset for the community, fostering connection and growth for generations to come,” he says. “This also allows us to shift our focus toward advancing other key strategic priorities for the future.”

The City of Trail will continue to publicly communicate project updates as milestones are achieved.