The Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena is well on the way to having a biomass system installed.
According to Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake development services coordinator Jeff Ragsdale, construction is ahead of schedule and system testing could start during the week of Sept. 18.
He estimated that 65 per cent of the $418,880 project has now been completed.
The village received $196,000 provincial Towns for Tomorrow Grant and have also used $102,000 from the municipal Gas Tax Funds to help fund the project.
Ragsdale said the project is unique.
"We aren't aware of any other arena's that are currently using this type of heating," he said.
The biomass heating system is set to replace the use of natural gas and electricity that is used to heat the arena.
"The main intent behind the project was to lower operating costs, reduce Greenhouse gas emissions, replace some aging infrastructure, and to help support local industry," Ragsdale said.
He went on to say that currently the village is getting pellet pricing and delivery information from local producers, Tahtsa Pellet and Pinnacle Pellet.
"Modern wood heating is clean, efficient, convenient and cost effective."
"Froling boilers will control the airflow, use thick boiler insulation and re-burn flue gases giving colourless flue gas and ensuring emissions that are well below even the strictest environmental standards. The boilers are very safe and meet and exceed all safety requirements by the B.C. Safety Authority. No special permits are required."
Ragsdale said he estimates savings in heating costs to be substantial and will be somewhere between $4,200 and $12,650 annually.
The biomass system also features a trial seat heat section of bleachers, which will replace the aging overhead natural gas heaters. "We may expand the seat heating to the remaining bleachers in the future, depending on public sentiment and available funding."
According to Ragsdale, arena staff will receive some basic training on how to use the new system.
The boilers and pellet storage will be located just outside the arena, immediately adjacent to the ice plant.
