Sustainability is an important foundation pillar for the World Ski Championships 2027. That Lugnet i Falun AB has energy optimization in focus in the ongoing maintenance work is a positive contribution to the World Ski Championships organization and its work with sustainability.
The new swimming pool complex on Lugnet uses the excess heat from the ice arena to heat the water and for ventilation. During the first year 544 000 kWh have been saved through this energy efficiency measure.
At Lugnet they work continuously with energy efficiency in connection with all ongoing maintenance:
– When something needs to be maintained or replaced, we make active choices with energy, climate and environmental aspects in mind,” says Maria Andersson, CEO of Lugnet i Falun AB, Lufab.
Energy efficiency makes a big difference at sports facilities with several energy-intensive arenas such as ice rinks and swimming pools, where the ice rinks emit heat during cooling and the swimming pools need energy for heating.
In the new swimming pool complex at Lugnet, the heat generated by the cooling of the ice arenas can be reused via a culvert to heat water and ventilation in the swimming pool.
– In the first year, we have saved 544 000 kWh just for heating the water and ventilation of the swimming pool,” says Henrik Stål, property engineer at Lufab.
The saved heating corresponds to the average annual consumption of 27 family houses and the figure only shows the energy savings for the swimming pool complex.
– If we had not utilized the heat, we would also have had to use energy to cool the excess heat from the ice arenas. By not having to do that, we save even more energy,” says Henrik Stål.
Technically, the culvert that previously existed between the ice arena and the outdoor pools was extended into the new swimming pool complex. In addition, two heat exchangers had to be installed, one for water and one for ventilation. The cooling water from the ice arena, which has an average temperature of 30 degrees, is sent to the swimming pool complex where the heat from the water is used to heat the shower water and ventilation, before returning to the cooling towers outside the ice arena.
– With this energy optimization, we can use our own surplus heat for 18 percent of the heating of water and ventilation in the bathhouse, says Henrik Stål.
The culvert between the ice arena and the new swimming pool complex is an example of energy efficiency that makes a big difference. Another recent energy efficiency improvement involved lighting. Which means that Lufab changed older light sources to LED lights makes a big difference. And in addition, Lufab installed a function that allows the brightness to be regulated depending on the outdoor light.
– Previously, the lighting was always on maximum, but now it is dimmed depending on the outside light. It’s a relatively small effort that makes a big difference in a large facility like Lugnet,” says Henrik Stål.
The financial cost of the investments can be repayed in a few years. Only by utilizing the excess heat from the ice arena, Lufab has saved over half a million SEK the first year in the corresponding cost per kilowatt.
– We always calculate the financial cost of an investment, and if the energy optimization pays for itself after just a few years, that is undoubtedly the choice we make. The environmental benefits are more difficult to calculate, but we strive to make active choices that also benefit the climate and the environment,” says Maria Andersson, CEO of Lufab.