Cool way to save money at the Aviemore ice rink
Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust is now reaping huge energy cost savings with the installation of a new chilling plant at its community ice rink.
The addition now operating at the Aviemore attraction was purchased with joint grant funding from the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
The rink opened in October 2021 after close to £200,000 was successfully fund-raised in a 10-month campaign.
The venue has quickly become and important facility for both visitors looking for additional fun activities and for local youngsters which has enabled many to take up new ice sport hobbies.
Trust co-ordinator Kirsty Bruce said: “It takes a lot of energy to run an ice rink and it’s our second highest operating cost after staffing.
“The ice rink team has always been proactive in working to mitigate energy costs and in summer 2022 the team undertook with volunteer help, extensive works to insulate the rink floor and instal an Low-E insulation to the marquee roof and walls – these works alone resulted in significant energy savings of around 40 per cent.
“However, we still had the high annual rental costs of hiring in ice refrigeration plant and we began to investigate the costs of purchasing our own chillers.
“With funding support from the CNPA, council and HIE, the trust purchased new energy efficient chillers and pumps which has enabled us to save the rink around £40,000 in rental costs.
“Our new plant has exceeded our expectations and we are aiming to have reduced our energy consumption by over 75 per cent this winter.
“When we first opened, the rink was using over 550kWh of energy and at today’s energy prices this would around £220 per day.
“We are currently operating at a cost of our £70 per day and are looking to reduce this to around £55 per day through peak winter.
Mrs Bruce added: “We are absolutely thrilled with our new chillers, and we would like to look at how we could make use of any heat recovery from the chillers.
“Achieving such energy savings whilst operating from a marquee is incredible – just imagine what we could achieve in a super insulated semi-permanent or permanent building.”
Since opening in October 2021, nearly 45,000 skaters and visitors have enjoyed the facility.
The trust’s ultimate goal remains the development of a full-sized, permanent ice rink.
An AGCT spokesperson said: “We were also able to return ice curling to Aviemore and we have seen fantastic interest in our niche short-curling experience.
“We are currently exploring the possibility of creating a full-size outdoor curling sheet at the rink.”
The trust is also working on plans to offer all P7 pupils in the strath a free four-week learn to curl block.
