Old- Alberta Multiplex Facility

Ellipse 8 19 Viewes May 19, 2025

By enroxa

Alberta Multiplex Facility

Introduction

This comprehensive case study anonymously details the energy analysis and targeted efficiency recommendations for a multiplex recreational facility located in Alberta. The facility encompasses three primary operational areas—Arena, Curling Club, and Community Pool—each with unique energy profiles and optimization opportunities. The analysis distinguishes clearly between operational savings—achievable at no additional cost through simple adjustments enabled by enhanced clarity—and retrofit savings, which require strategic investments backed by data-driven insights.

Facility Overview

The Alberta Multiplex serves as a hub for recreational and community activities, including ice sports, curling, swimming, and other aquatic programs. Given its diverse operational demands and extensive equipment infrastructure, the facility experiences significant energy consumption, making it an ideal candidate for detailed energy auditing and strategic efficiency upgrades.

System Setup and Professional Categorization

When the energy monitoring system was installed, the project team professionally categorized every electrical circuit into precise asset classes and linked each to an extensive asset library. This categorization enabled detailed, ongoing monitoring and immediate identification of performance anomalies. Additionally, facility-specific operational schedules were integrated alongside real-time local weather data, allowing dynamic analysis of equipment performance relative to expected conditions. This advanced setup provided exceptional clarity, enabling targeted energy management and significant operational improvements.

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Arena Section

Identified Energy Issues:

Excessive Off-hour Energy Usage: Approximately 6,237 kWh/month was recorded during non-operational hours, mainly due to lighting, overhead fans, and exhaust fans running unnecessarily.
Lighting and Exhaust Fan Inefficiency: Older lighting fixtures and fans lacked occupancy or daylight controls and ran continuously.
Hidden Plug Loads: Devices like vending machines, concession warmers, and office plug-loads were consuming 1,491 kWh/month, often outside of business hours.

Note on Ice Plant:

The facility’s ice plant is aging and expected to be replaced in a future capital upgrade. An upgraded control system is also recommended. Given this anticipated replacement, the study did not include operational or retrofit measures for the ice plant.

Operational Savings (No-cost adjustments):

Automated Lighting & Fan Scheduling
→ Savings: 1,247 kWh/month
Plug Load Management
→ Savings: 299 kWh/month
Manual Lighting Zoning
→ Savings: 212 kWh/month
Exhaust Fan Rotation Strategy
→ Savings: 198 kWh/month
Thermostat Setpoint Review
→ Savings: 143 kWh/month

Total Operational Savings: 2,099 kWh/month
Annual Estimate (12 months): 25,188 kWh/year
Off-hour load reduction: ~43.7%

Retrofit Savings (Data-backed investments):

LED Lighting Upgrade with Dimming Sensors
→ Savings: 1,487 kWh/month
Smart HVAC and Fan Controls
→ Savings: 631 kWh/month

Total Retrofit Savings: 2,118 kWh/month
Annual Estimate: 25,416 kWh/year
Estimated equipment-related reduction: ~36.4%

Curling Club Section

Identified Energy Issues:

Heating System Overuse: Radiant heaters and HVAC units were operating during unoccupied periods, contributing 4,478 kWh/month of waste.
Exhaust Fans & Auxiliary Equipment: Fans ran continuously in change rooms and mechanical areas.
Lighting Inefficiency: No zoning or occupancy logic; lights ran at full load.
Undocumented Plug Loads: Devices like space heaters and maintenance tools drew off-hour power.

Note on Ice Plant:

The Curling Club shares the arena’s aging ice plant. No changes were applied during this study due to expected future capital replacement.

Operational Savings (No-cost adjustments):

Heating Schedule Refinement
→ Savings: 638 kWh/month
Exhaust Fan Scheduling
→ Savings: 477 kWh/month
Lighting Zone Management
→ Savings: 213 kWh/month
Plug Load Controls
→ Savings: 287 kWh/month

Total Operational Savings: 1,615 kWh/month
Annual Estimate (10 months): 16,150 kWh/year
Off-hour load reduction: ~36.1%

Retrofit Savings (Data-backed investments):

Advanced Thermostats & Zone Controls
→ Savings: 994 kWh/month
Efficient Lighting Retrofit
→ Savings: 1,128 kWh/month

Total Retrofit Savings: 2,122 kWh/month
Annual Estimate (10 months): 21,220 kWh/year
Estimated equipment-related reduction: ~32.6%

Community Pool Section (Seasonal Operation – Summer Only)

Identified Energy Issues:

Seasonal Operation Patterns: Despite being operational only May–September, equipment was active during shoulder seasons and prep periods.
Pump & RTU Runtime: Pumps and ventilation systems ran continuously, even during unoccupied times.
→ Consumption: 10,322 kWh/month
Spray Park Activators: Ran outside scheduled hours and in unfavorable weather.
→ Consumption: 3,487 kWh/month
Auxiliary Plug Loads: Chemical monitors, vending machines, and filter components drew baseline power.

Operational Savings (No-cost adjustments):

Pump Runtime Optimization
→ Savings: 913 kWh/month
RTU Off-Hour Reduction
→ Savings: 722 kWh/month
Spray Park Activator Timing
→ Savings: 847 kWh/month
Plug Load Scheduling
→ Savings: 278 kWh/month

Total Operational Savings: 2,760 kWh/month
Annual Estimate (5-month season): 13,800 kWh/year
Off-hour load reduction: ~38.6%

Retrofit Savings (Data-backed investments):

Variable Speed Drives (VSDs)
→ Savings: 1,987 kWh/month
Automated Spray Park Activators
→ Savings: 1,233 kWh/month
RTU Demand-Based Controls
→ Savings: 901 kWh/month

Total Retrofit Savings: 4,121 kWh/month
Annual Estimate (5-month season): 20,605 kWh/year
Estimated equipment-related reduction: ~39.9%

Facility-Wide Energy Efficiency Summary

This energy efficiency assessment was conducted for a multi-use municipal recreation multiplex, encompassing an arena, curling club, and a seasonal community pool. Through circuit-level monitoring and detailed operational analysis, a number of inefficiencies were identified and opportunities for both no-cost operational improvements and capital retrofits were established.

Identified System-Wide Issues

Across all areas of the facility, the following patterns were observed:

High Off-Hour Consumption from lighting, HVAC systems, pumps, and exhaust fans operating unnecessarily during unoccupied periods.
Outdated Equipment without controls, including legacy lighting and manually controlled ventilation.
Unmanaged Plug Loads, such as vending machines, concession appliances, and maintenance tools left on continuously.
Aging Ice Plant Infrastructure, shared between the Arena and Curling Club, which is due for full system replacement and therefore excluded from this study’s upgrade scope.

Operational Savings Summary (No-Cost Adjustments)

Simple scheduling, equipment control, and staff behavior changes resulted in measurable savings across all areas:

Area	Monthly Savings	Annual Estimate	Off-Hour Reduction
Arena	2,099 kWh	25,188 kWh/year	~43.7%
Curling Club	1,615 kWh	16,150 kWh/year	~36.1%
Pool (Seasonal)	2,760 kWh	13,800 kWh/year	~38.6%
Total	6,474 kWh	~55,138 kWh/year

These savings were achieved with no new capital investment — made possible solely by using real-time data from the SmartSence platform to pinpoint inefficiencies.

Retrofit Savings Summary (Capital Measures)

Using data insights, targeted retrofit recommendations were modeled for long-term improvements in lighting, HVAC, circulation, and spray park systems:

Area	Monthly Savings	Annual Estimate	Equipment Reduction
Arena	2,118 kWh	25,416 kWh/year	~36.4%
Curling Club	2,122 kWh	21,220 kWh/year	~32.6%
Pool (Seasonal)	4,121 kWh	20,605 kWh/year	~39.9%
Total	8,361 kWh	~67,241 kWh/year

These upgrades included:

LED lighting with daylight and occupancy controls
Smart HVAC and fan control systems
Variable speed drives on pool pumps
Automated spray park activators tied to weather and occupancy sensors

Facility-Wide Total Savings Estimate

Category	Estimated Annual Savings
Operational Savings	~55,138 kWh/year
Retrofit Savings	~67,241 kWh/year
Combined Total	~122,379 kWh/year

⚠️ Annual estimates have been conservatively adjusted to account for seasonality and usage fluctuations. The community pool operates approximately five months per year.