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By Caden Fanshaw

EARTH WEEK

Electric Zamboni part of PG push to be more environmentally friendly

Apr 21, 2022 | 6:39 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – After purchasing an electric Zamboni back in January 2020, the ice resurfacing machine has just wrapped up its first winter with regular use after a pandemic delayed start.

The electric machine works the same as any propane, natural gas, or gas version could on the ice, while also adding a bonus. Zero emissions.

“Driving the electric Zamboni has been like driving any other zamboni, except a little bit quieter” joked Josh Derhousoff, Facilities Foreman for the City of Prince George. “It;s operation has gone really well, and really well received from staff, and our operations group.”

The city first purchased the EV Zamboni back in January 2020, although because of the pandemic it never got a regular winter season of skating and hockey until 2021-22.

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As for charging, the EV only needs one charge mid-way through the day, every flood uses about 13% of the lithium-ion batteries, similar to the kind that you’d find in an electric car.

According to city staff, there are about 10 zamboni’s in the city’s fleet, right now only one of them is electric although that number is expected to grow in the future.

The Zamboni is not the only way Prince George is trying to be more environmentally friendly, one of the biggest tools the city boasts is their downtown energy system which reduces hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions every day.

The Downtown Renewable Energy System reduces greenhouse gasses by 1,868 tonnes per year, and that number is climbing as more businesses hook up to the system.

New innovations are also on the horizon, including many BC-based climate solutions. SHARC Energy Systems is just one of those, based out of the Lower Mainland, the goal is to turn wastewater into opportunity.

The company recovers and recycles heat energy from wastewater going down the drain from residential and commercial buildings.

CEO Lynn Mueller said the pulp mills in Prince George are an obvious target with enormous amounts of wasted energy, a topic that may even involve a future project.