Study on Improving the Energy Performance of Complexes Sportifs Terrebonne

Complexes Sportifs Terrebonne, in partnership with the City of Terrebonne, is considering the possibility of implementing innovative energy efficiency measures in municipal sports facilities. The facilities consist of four buildings comprising swimming pools, arenas, a gymnasium, weight and training rooms and soccer fields with synthetic turf. Installed in outdated buildings with low energy efficiency, they no longer meet the requirements of the clientele (1.8 million visitors per year), nor the demands of sustainable development. Complexes Sportifs Terrebonne, already engaged in improving its environmental practices, wishes to study measures in particular to reduce consumption of drinking water and emissions of gases harmful to the ozone layer, and to evaluate heat recovery measures. Part of the feasibility study will be devoted to the development of alternative technical solutions. They will be assessed according to the triple bottom line method: economic factors (40%), environmental factors (40%) and social factors (20%). Complexes Sportifs Terrebonne expects to thus achieve energy savings of at least 30%, which will result in a financial saving of over 25%. Subsequently, the organization will develop a measuring and monitoring plan to ensure project follow-up. Certain innovative practices will be studied, such as the use of electrically-powered heat pumps and heat recovery, rare in Quebec municipal arenas and sports complexes, as well as a CO2 or dielectric refrigeration system. If Complexes Sportifs Terrebonne confirms the feasibility of a system that uses innovative technology for the arenas, the system selected can serve as a model for other municipalities with outdated arenas and sports centres. Furthermore, the knowledge will be very useful to municipalities preparing to comply with the new legislation that will ban Freon refrigeration systems in arenas in 2020. (Project description from original funding application)