Gore Multi-Sports Complex
Front view of Gore Multi-sports Complex during construction (click to enlarge)
Ice skating rink
Front view of Gore Multi-sports Complex
Swimming pool
Techlink would like to thank Simon Taylor for his contribution to this case study.
Introduction
Local communities and schools are investing in new and upgraded sports facilities throughout New Zealand, for these communities both large and small, engineering energy efficient designs with cost-effective capital and operating costs are critical to their viability and success. The Gore Multi-sport Facility project is an example of how a smart design has made the project viable. Simon Taylor, Senior Mechanical Engineer at MWH outlines the problems faced and the solutions developed.The Gore Multi-sports Complex incorporates an ice skating rink and an aquatic complex, comprising a 25m swimming pool, a leisure pool and hydrotherapy spa. Developed separately, the high energy and capital costs of these facilities would have made them prohibitively expensive for the community of Gore District. Combining the heat removal from the ice rink with the water and air heating for the pool, made this facility possible.
The process works using heat pump technology. Heat pump heating is a fairly common practise in aquatic centre design where alternative heating fuel cost is higher. Gore's unique feature is using the by-product, the cooling effect, of the heating system for the Aquatic Centre to provide cooling to the Ice Rink with practically no increase in energy consumption.
The total energy used by the facility is extremely low. The monthly electricity energy consumption for heating/cooling and power of both facilities is in the order of 140,000 kWh in winter, despite the extreme conditions in Gore. This compares well with heating and electricity usage of 170,000 to 250,000 kWh used by similar Aquatic Centres in the lower North Island, without the Ice Rink.
RSS Feed
