Upgrading to energy efficient LED lighting can save you over 35% on lighting energy costs. Energy efficient lamps and bulbs also last longer, helping you save on replacement lights and maintenance costs.

takeCHARGE offers rebates on a variety of energy efficient lighting:

• LED Luminaires – 30% – up to $30 per fixture
• LED Light Bulbs – 50% – Up to $10 per bulb
• T8 LED Tubes (four-foot) – Up to $3 per tube
• LED High Bay Fixtures – Up to $90 per fixture
• LED Wall Packs – $25 per unit
• LED Exit Signs – $20 per exit sign and $15 per retrofit
• LED Pole Lighting – up to $250 per fixture

Occupancy sensors can help you save up to 40% on lighting energy costs.

Minimize exterior lighting. At night, only use what you need for safety and security purposes.

Use daylight whenever possible. Natural light has been linked to higher employee productivity and comfort.

Encourage employees to turn off the lights at the end of the day.

Consider installing a mini-split heat pump in large office areas, apparatus bays, and other spaces that are heated.These units are great for small offices and are economical to install. A mini-split heat pump can save over 40% on your heating costs. They also offer the option of air conditioning for the warm summer months. Cold climate or low temperature air source heat pump (ASHP) systems are more efficient than conventional electric baseboards and are a great choice for larger buildings. These systems can achieve savings of up to 50% over conventional electric baseboards.

During the winter months, open the blinds during the day to allow the sun to assist with heating office spaces.

Address any building envelope issues:

• Roof Insulation
• Wall Insulation
• Gaps around doors, windows and entry point into the facility

When replacing equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, copiers, fax machines, or kitchen appliances purchase ENERGY STAR® qualified units.

Choose laptops when possible. They typically use less energy than desktop computers — in some cases up to five times less energy.

Enable the power management features that are built into the computer’s operating system. Using power-management features can reduce electricity costs by $25 to $75 a year per computer.

Encourage employees to shut off computers at the end of the day.

Choose LED lighting. Switch from fluorescent or incandescent lighting to LED fixtures. LEDs use up to 75% less energy, last much longer, and provide better 
light quality.

Many municipal firehalls are occupied for very limited hours per week. Be sure to turn the lights off when the building is unoccupied.

Install occupancy sensors in areas with intermittent use like restrooms, storage areas, and meeting rooms to ensure lights are only on when needed.

takeCHARGE offers rebates on a variety of energy efficient lighting:

• LED Luminaires – 30% – up to $30 per fixture
• LED Light Bulbs – 50% – Up to $10 per bulb
• T8 LED Tubes (four-foot) – Up to $3 per tube
• LED High Bay Fixtures – Up to $90 per fixture
• LED Wall Packs – $25 per unit
• LED Exit Signs – $20 per exit sign and $15 per retrofit
• LED Pole Lighting – up to $250 per fixture
• Occupancy Sensors – $10 per occupancy sensor

Consider installing mini-split heat pumps in offices, apparatus bays, and other occupied spaces. Mini-splits provide efficient heating and cooling by transferring rather than generating heat, which makes them much more energy-efficient than traditional systems.

They also offer the flexibility of zoned heating and cooling, so areas can be adjusted independently based on use. This is especially helpful in spaces with varying occupancy levels, as it reduces energy use and increases comfort.

Mini-split systems are also relatively easy to install and do not require extensive ductwork, making them a cost-effective choice for retrofitting older fire hall buildings.

Upgrade to energy efficient boilers and water heaters. Older heating units can be a major drain on energy – switching to high-efficiency models can significantly lower your energy use.

Brine pump control. For older systems, the brine pump may run 24/7 during
the ice season. This wastes a lot of energy. Consider Variable Speed Drives for
the brine pump or install an infrared ice temperature monitoring system to
start/stop the pump.

Heat recovery from ice plant. The ice-making process generates a large amount of wasted heat that can be captured and reused for heating water for showers, sinks, or even ice resurfacing. This reduces the need for separate water heating systems.

Ice temperature control. Raise the ice temperature slightly (if acceptable for the sport) to reduce refrigeration load. Many arenas keep ice colder than necessary, which increases energy use. Monitoring and adjusting ice temperatures for different events can help reduce energy use.

Dehumidification systems. Maintain optimal humidity levels with efficient dehumidifiers. Excess moisture can make ice surfaces soft, requiring more energy for resurfacing and refrigeration. Efficient dehumidification keeps the ice harder and reduces the compressor’s workload.

LED lighting. Replace metal halide or fluorescent lights with LED fixtures. LEDs use significantly less energy and have a much longer lifespan, reducing maintenance and replacement costs. They also provide better light quality. LED over-ice fixtures also reduce compressor loading, in addition to the lighting savings.

Zoned and task lighting. Use zoned lighting for different areas (e.g., spectator seating, concessions, entrances) to limit energy use to only occupied or active zones. Adjust lighting levels over the ice based on use — with LED instant-on lighting, this is easier to do.

Exterior Lighting Efficiency: For parking lots, entrances, and security, install LED lights with motion sensors and photocells to ensure lights are on only when necessary.

takeCHARGE offers rebates on a variety of energy efficient lighting:

• LED Luminaires – 30% – up to $30 per fixture
• LED Light Bulbs – 50% – Up to $10 per bulb
• T8 LED Tubes (four-foot) – Up to $3 per tube
• LED High Bay Fixtures – Up to $90 per fixture
• LED Wall Packs – $25 per unit
• LED Exit Signs – $20 per exit sign and $15 per retrofit
• LED Pole Lighting – up to $250 per fixture
• Occupancy Sensors – $10 per occupancy sensor

Heat recovery systems capture heat generated from equipment, lighting, or even the ice-making process to warm other parts of the arena like locker rooms, hallways, or even concession stands. Heat recovery systems repurpose wasted heat, which can significantly reduce heating costs.

Implement zoned HVAC controls with programmable thermostats to heat and condition only the areas in use. This can help manage temperature separately for spectator areas, administrative offices, and dressing & warm rooms, reducing energy during non-use hours.

Efficient air handling. Use demand-controlled ventilation, which adjusts airflow based on occupancy.

Building envelope enhancements like improving insulation, weatherproofing doors and windows, and adding air curtains to exterior doors can reduce heat loss. Proper insulation and sealing help stabilize indoor temperatures and minimize energy demand.

Floodwater deration systems eliminate the need to heat water for ice resurfacing. Savings come from reduced hot water heating costs and reduced compressor operation, since hot water energy does not need to be removed from the ice. They are increasing in popularity and are worth investigating!

Approximately 70-80% of the electricity costs for water treatment typically goes to pumps. There are several options for improving pump efficiency. The best option for your facilities will depend on some of the specifics of your operation. Water pumping systems are complex, and pump energy saving options should be assessed as a full system to ensure savings and operation is well understood.

Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) can reduce pumping speed and pressure and provide excellent electricity savings. A pump running at 80% speed reduces energy use by 50%. If and how you can use VSDs will depend on your water system details.

Another option is to increase motor efficiency. For motors that run a lot, even a few percent increase in efficiency can be cost-effective. You should also ensure the right motor sizing, since motors may be oversized.

LED lighting. Switch from fluorescent or incandescent lighting to LED fixtures. LEDs use up to 75% less energy, last much longer, and provide better light quality.

Install occupancy sensors in areas with intermittent use, like restrooms, storage areas, and meeting rooms, to ensure lights are only on when needed.

takeCHARGE offers rebates on a variety of energy efficient lighting:

• LED Luminaires – 30% – up to $30 per fixture
• LED Light Bulbs – 50% – Up to $10 per bulb
• T8 LED Tubes (four-foot) – Up to $3 per tube
• LED High Bay Fixtures – Up to $90 per fixture
• LED Wall Packs – $25 per unit
• LED Exit Signs – $20 per exit sign and $15 per retrofit
• LED Pole Lighting – up to $250 per fixture
• Occupancy Sensors – $10 per occupancy sensor

Consider installing mini-split heat pumps in large office areas, apparatus bays, and other spaces that are heated. Mini-splits provide efficient heating and cooling by transferring rather than generating heat, making them much more energy-efficient than traditional systems.

They also offer the flexibility of zoned heating and cooling, so areas can be adjusted independently based on use. This is especially helpful in spaces with varying occupancy levels, as it reduces energy use and increases comfort.

Mini-split systems are also relatively easy to install and do not require extensive ductwork, making them a cost-effective choice for retrofitting buildings.

Programmable thermostats reduce heating and cooling during
low-occupancy times. Smart thermostats that adjust based on building
use patterns can also be helpful here.