Additional upgrades planned for Bentley Arena

BENTLEY -- More upgrades could be coming to the Bentley Arena.

According to town staff, the new upgrades being considered would come as part of the municipality's recent efforts to make the building more energy-efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As part of their recent work, the Town of Bentley has already made significant upgrades to the arena and curling club building. These have included upgrades to the arena slab and ice plant, accessibility modifications at the north entrance, and new LED lighting for the curling club.

In order to continue their efforts, the township is now looking at upgrading the lights at the Bentley Arena from T5 - 6 lamp fixtures to LED High-bay fixtures.  Administration says this will improve the lighting for players, skaters, and spectators in the arena, while reducing the overall energy consumption of the facility.  The addition of a new low emissivity ceiling for the arena is also being explored at this time.

The town estimates that the low e-ceiling will save a minimum of $3,500 per annum, while the lighting upgrades will save $3,227 per annum in electricity costs. Bentley Minor Hockey has agreed to fund up to 50 per cent of the LED lighting upgrades, while the town is now exploring a possible grant from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre to cover the remaining costs.