Prior to 1965, if you wanted to play organized hockey or figure skate in Falmouth you had two options: find a safe pond or go to Hyannis. In 1965, Albert Lawrence took the initiative to build The Falmouth Ice Arena. Soon thereafter, Falmouth Youth Hockey and Falmouth Figure Skating Club began and Falmouth had a venue to enjoy skating at all levels.
From the beginning, the rink was run on a modest budget but by 1967 the rink was in danger of being closed. It was at that time a group of local businessmen became involved with the idea of saving the rink through local fundraising efforts. It quickly became clear that these well intentioned efforts were not going to be adequate. In 1967, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly III provided FYHL with 1,500 shares of Lilly Pharmaceutical stock to be used as collateral for a loan. The rink was saved!
Falmouth continued to enjoy a great hockey program as well as a tremendous figure skating program. Over the years there have been State Championship teams, Gold Medals, and the simple joy of skating. Generations of Falmouth’s youth were given the opportunity to enjoy and participate in group athletics and the old rink served us very well. But times change, technology changed and our needs had changed.
In 2012, Falmouth got a brand new ice arena. The new ice arena is an attractive, comfortable venue for all types of skating; and exemplifies a high level of energy and environmental stewardship. Key components of this high performance building include:
· Well insulated and airtight building envelope and roof system
· Waste heat recovery system for space heating, snowmelt, and the water to be used for ice resurfacing.
· Computerized building energy management system to optimize both indoor air quality as well as the functioning of the cooling and other systems.
· Highly efficient lighting and plumbing fixtures
· Building orientation for solar readiness
· Plantings and overhangs designed for summer solar shading
· No use of CFCs
Based on extensive research, we believe that by employing such measures, the new Falmouth Ice Arena uses half of the energy of a standard facility of its type.
The integration of a waste heat recovery system into the new Falmouth Ice Arena is an example of the high level of energy and environmental stewardship intended for this building. A rink's refrigeration system is its largest energy consumer, but the heat produced by the refrigeration system is typically wasted. It has been shown in other ice arenas that water of approximately 100 degrees F can be generated using this heat for the ice resurfacing water and showers as well as to melt accumulated snow. In fact, the cooling water can be used directly in resurfacing operations for a significant reduction in water consumption.
An important aspect of any building with respect to energy efficiency is ensuring that the building envelope is airtight and well-insulated. Careful attention was given to this aspect of the facility, both during the design and construction phase. A high performance, reflective roof and ceiling system and the building's design and orientation also contribute to energy efficiency, both by optimizing passive solar heating for the non-ice spaces, as well as by reducing heat loads in the summer.
