| At a time when everyone is going green, why | | | | in drastically lower electricity bills. |
| not take it to the ice, as well? | | | | On average, refrigeration costs for a water based |
| Water is our single most precious resource, yet, | | | | 85’ x 185’ indoor ice rink are |
| due to decades of misuse and wastefulness, | | | | approximately $5000-$7000 per month. |
| many parts of the world are seeing major water | | | | Those electricity costs are completely eliminated |
| shortages. And with less than 1% of the | | | | by installing a synthetic ice rink. Try and find a |
| world’s water being drinkable, steps need to | | | | business who wouldn’t want to save $5000 |
| be taken to preserve as much of this vital | | | | every month. |
| resource as possible. | | | | Versatility: Indoor and Outdoor Rinks |
| One highly effective and economic way to | | | | If a flat surface is present, a synthetic ice rink |
| conserve water is to choose synthetic ice rinks | | | | can be built. End of story. A synthetic rink can be |
| over conventional, water-based rinks. | | | | made to fit any size space. It can be built and |
| Synthetic, or artificial, ice has been around for | | | | maintained indoors or outdoors and at any |
| decades. Although criticized early on, fake ice has | | | | temperature. These rinks don’t require air |
| come a long way in the last 10 years. Hockey | | | | conditioned buildings or elaborate facilities. This cuts |
| players, figure skaters and ice skaters alike, agree | | | | down on labor costs and uses less of our |
| that, today, the experience of skating on an | | | | world’s limited resources. |
| artificial surface is quite comparable to that of | | | | The artificial rinks are also portable. This makes |
| skating on a real sheet of ice. | | | | them ideal for say, traveling skating exhibitions. |
| Recently Artificial Ice Events supplied the | | | | And the installation and tear-down times are just |
| synthetic ice arena for the Tourism British | | | | a few short hours. |
| Columbia Olympics 2010 Preview Party. The | | | | Low Maintenance |
| event featured performances from world class | | | | When dealing with a water-based rink, a lot of |
| and Olympic figure skaters. | | | | upkeep in required. Not only does the ice need to |
| Heidi Vanderhoof, USFSA gold medalist and | | | | be cleaned and scraped regularly, an intricate |
| professional ice show star stated “it was by | | | | piping system is also necessary. In order to keep |
| far the best synthetic ice I have ever skated on | | | | the ice surface at its desired 16 degrees, |
| and I was able to do everything on this ice that I | | | | approximately 10 miles of piping is used. Glycol, or |
| do on real ice”. | | | | anti-freeze, is chilled by compressors and flows |
| If it’s good enough for a professional skater, | | | | continuously through the pipes 24 hours a day. |
| it’s good enough for anyone, right? | | | | It’s quite the intricate set-up. |
| Synthetic ice is becoming so popular that | | | | Save on Electricity |
| numerous rinks around the nation are choosing it | | | | As previously mentioned, water conservation is a |
| over natural, water-based rinks. Rather than | | | | huge benefit of synthetic ice rinks. But water is |
| wasting water, electricity and manpower, it’s | | | | not the only resource being conserved. Because |
| sensible to take the synthetic ice route. | | | | no refrigeration is needed to keep water frozen, |
| For those unaware of exactly how synthetic ice | | | | the use of electricity is also greatly reduced. |
| works, the Artificial Ice Events website describes | | | | And no one saves more in this department than |
| the product like this: | | | | states like Florida, California, Texas, Nevada and |
| “Our synthetic ice consists of a unique plastic | | | | Arizona. Rather than air conditioners working |
| polymer that best resembles the consistency of | | | | overtime to preserve natural ice in 100 degree |
| the world’s largest white cutting board. Our | | | | temps, air conditioners aren’t even needed |
| outdoor, indoor, and anywhere ice skating rinks | | | | when synthetic ice is used. |
| are fitted together like a giant jigsaw puzzle in | | | | Also unnecessary is the use of a Zamboni to |
| 4’ X 8’ synthetic ice sheets. We then | | | | resurface the ice. Not only do Zambonies use |
| treat the ice panels with a lubricating solution that | | | | additional water to help in the resurfacing process, |
| reduces contact friction and enhances the glide | | | | but they run on any number of carbon-based |
| and speed of the skating experience.” | | | | fuels such as propane, natural gas, electricity or |
| Aside from water conservation, there are other | | | | gasoline. Again, the use of these resources is |
| great benefits to synthetic ice: | | | | avoided when opting for a synthetic ice rink. |
| • It’s much less expensive to install and | | | | Why Make the Switch? |
| maintain. | | | | With many companies making synthetic ice rinks |
| • It has great versatility. It can literally be | | | | readily available, there’s truly no logical reason |
| installed just about anywhere. | | | | to continue wasting valuable resources in order to |
| • It requires very low maintenance. | | | | create water-based rinks. In preparing a regulation |
| • It helps to conserve not only water, but also | | | | size ice rink for a hockey game, 15,000 gallons of |
| electricity. | | | | water is needed. Then consider all the power used |
| Save Yourself Some Money | | | | to refrigerate the ice and the fuel resources used |
| Not only is a synthetic ice rink cheaper to install | | | | to fuel the Zamboni for upkeep. |
| than a regular rink, the upkeep is also much less | | | | That’s a whole lot of water, electricity and |
| expensive. When water is used, a lot of electricity | | | | fuel wasted. Synthetic ice rinks give towns, |
| is required in order to keep the rink at freezing | | | | businesses, and individuals the choice to Go Green |
| temperatures. But with synthetic ice, no | | | | while saving substantial budget dollars. |
| refrigeration is needed at all. This obviously results | | | | |