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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Multiplex ice plant currently generates and loses enough heat to warm the entire building, plus the fieldhouse recreational facility proposed next door.

A portion of the wasted heat produced by the ice plant system - which runs an average of 10-12 hours a day - is reclaimed, "but the majority is dumped outside with no useful application," according to city administration.

But not for long if city council approves a new $513,000 heat recovery system, which Mayor Gord Van Tighem calls "exceptionally interesting."

The system - dubbed Eco Chill and designed by Toronto-based Cimco Refrigeration, manufacturer of the current ice plant - harnesses and recycles the heat produced to maintain the ice surface. The stored heat can be used for things like warming the building and supplying hot water.

Councillors showed early support for the system, with Coun. Mark Heyck commending administration on its "initiative" and "innovation."

The system, if given the go-ahead, is set for installation in three parts. The first part - the only phase Cimco's current bid price covers - has a capital cost of $313,000 and includes the arena area, dressing rooms, office, zamboni room and mechanical areas.

Phase two connects the system to heat the remainder of the building, and phase three connects the Multiplex to the fieldhouse. The last two phases are pegged at $100,000.

If all three phases go through, the city will save an estimated $163,000 in annual fuel costs. On average, the Multiplex uses about 223,000 litres of heating fuel annually. The first phase of the project alone will cut back consumption by 87,000 litres.

While this eco-friendly aspect of the system prompted support, the recommendation did not go without questions. Coun. David Wind wanted to know if the system would "work even in 40 below," and if there will be sufficient heat for the building if the ice system "should, heaven forbid, fail like it did last year."

In October, the chiller sprung a leak, rendering the two ice surfaces at the Multiplex unusable.

Grant White, director of community services, said the answer to Wind's first question is "yes." As for the second concern, he said there is nothing to worry about since both buildings will have secondary heating sources.

"The fieldhouse will have two heat sources - the Eco Chill system backed up by the current boilers in the Multiplex," he confirmed.

"There is no question the excess heat can be transferred over to the soccer centre," added White.

The first two phases of the project are expected to reduce city operational emissions by about 11 per cent.

However, "it's really important to take these numbers as an estimate," cautioned Mark Henry, the city's energy coordinator.