It takes a lot of electricity to keep an ice skating rink running. That's part of why the Woodstock Union Arena has created a four-tier plan to reduce energy costs, which account for about one-third of its business expenses.
Steps include upgrading the existing equipment for efficiency and buying solar panels to be erected offsite.
Ejay Bishop, general manager at the rink, says making the arena run on renewable energy isn't just an environmental cause.
“It's a way to keep the doors open but not constantly charge more money for people to come in and skate,” says Bishop. “It makes it affordable and keeps it affordable. The long-term goal there is if stays affordable people will continue to skate.”
The rink expects to reach zero-energy costs by within the next three years.
