The federal government is giving a 30-year-old multi-purpose sportsplex in Brampton, Ontario, $10 million to transform into a zero-carbon facility. The investment comes from the Green Municipal Fund’s (GMF) Community Buildings Retrofit (CBR) initiative.

Retrofits for the Susan Fennell Sportsplex will electrify the facility’s gas-powered equipment, including boilers and ice resurfacers, install a geothermal system, as well as upgrade the ice rink refrigeration plants, air handling units, heat pumps, lighting, and other systems.

A combination of energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy measures and carbon offers, will help Brampton create a model for other recreational facilities as part of its long-term goal towards Zero Carbon transition.

The upgrades are expected to reduce operating costs and carbon emissions by 91 per cent annually, with the remaining 9 per cent savings achieved through carbon offsets. The reductions equal about 550 cars taken off the road for one year, or 30,000 trees grown for 10 years.