Energy-Efficient Improvements to Waltham Ice Rink Will Save Approximately $15K

WALTHAM, MA – The Baker-Polito administration announced the completion of 24 Simple Fix energy efficiency projects on Friday – among them, Veterans Memorial Rink in Waltham.

The recent Simple Fix projects, which took place at smaller state facilities and were completed in a short time frame, will reduce the state's annual energy costs by $159,000. The changes at Veterans Memorial Rink, which involved lighting improvements, added sensors, vending misers and variable frequency drives (VFDs) will save an estimated $15,009.

"The Simple Fix initiative brings together commonsense solutions from across state government for the benefit of all taxpayers and ratepayers," Gov. Baker said in a statement. "The Commonwealth is a national leader in energy efficiency and clean energy innovation and our administration is committed to ensuring that Massachusetts takes full advantage of the cost and energy savings currently available."

The 24 completed projects received more than $230,000 in utility incentives, in addition to a $1.07 million investment by the state, with the energy savings surpassing total investment in seven years. They are projected to reduce electricity consumption by the equivalent of electricity use by 114 Massachusetts homes, according to a press release.

"The Simple Fix program does just what its name implies: it allows DCAMM to make low-cost, high-impact investments in some of the Commonwealth’s smaller facilities, particularly ones that have environmental and recreational uses," Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) Commissioner Carol Gladstone said in a statement. "This is consistent with the Baker-Polito Administration’s capital investment strategy of modernizing our existing assets."

The 24 projects included rinks, pools, maintenance facilities, Boston office buildings and a state lab facility. Additional information on the projects can be found here.

Photo by Benson Kua via Flickr