Recreation Energy Conservation Program

Funding Programs

 This program is not accepting applications at this time.

We are making real change at the heart of our communities, the places we play, live and learn.

Recreation facilities promote active living, building strong families and healthy communities. In many cities, towns and villages, these facilities run at all hours of the day, providing diverse services for thousands. As a result, municipalities see significant energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from these essential facilities.

With the Recreation Energy Conservation program, Alberta municipalities are receiving up to $750,000 for retrofits that reduce energy costs in arenas, swimming pools, multiplexes, and parks. Read on to see how your community is benefiting from cleaner air, a cooler climate, and long-term cost savings.

Results from projects completed to date (2019–24)

205projects completed in 81 municipalities

8,640 tonnes CO2e emissions avoided annually

$12M in funding spent on rebates

$1.9M in annual savings for municipalities

Showcase

See how Okotoks and Foothills County are transforming the arenas, aquatic centres and curling rinks that form the core gathering places in these communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Recreation Energy Conservation program?

The Recreation Energy Conservation program provided grants of up to $750,000 to municipalities and community-related organizations for the purchase and installation of energy saving equipment in recreation facilities.

What facilities were eligible for funding?

Grants were available for use in recreation facilities requiring complex and high energy-consuming systems. This included: arenas and curling rinks; aquatic centres and swimming pools; dry sport centres, such as facilities that do not include ice surfaces or aquatic facilities; multiplexes, such as facilities that include a combination of dry sports, ice surfaces, and aquatic facilities; and athletic parks, such as football or soccer parks with high-intensity lighting.

What kinds of projects were funded?

Municipalities could apply for scoping audits and engineering studies prior to applying for funding to implement projects. Up to 75% of equipment and installation costs were funded. In some cases, projects were given enough funding to bring the simple payback period down to just one year.

Common upgrades included LED lighting retrofits, purchasing ice rink flood water deaerators, and installing combined heat and power generation. See more examples in the Project Showcase.

Is the program open for new applications?

The Recreation Energy Conservation Program has disbursed all its funding and is closed for new applications as of August 2022. The Action Centre is exploring options for a similar program to open in 2024.

My municipality applied to the program, now what?

Approved projects have received an offer letter to secure funding. Only applicants who signed an offer letter within 30 days are guaranteed their funding. Projects with signed offer letters will not be impacted by the program closure and can continue with implementation.