The Portage Regional Recreation Authority (PRRA) is upgrading the lighting in both PCU Centre arenas to LED.

The main arena had its old metal-halide fixtures removed and replaced with LED lights today, while the Portage Mutual Arena is due to be upgraded in March. The project will cost $89,523, with $41,300 covered by a Manitoba Hydro Power Smart grant. The PRRA will finance the portion not covered with grant money through the Manitoba Hydro Pays financing program.

"Manitoba Hydro takes what they estimate the reduction in hydro use per month is and applies it towards the principle," PRRA general manager David Sattler explains. "There will be no cash out of pocket for the PRRA. Our hydro costs will remain the same, however we're reducing our load. Once the loan is paid for, then we see cost savings."

Portage Regional Recreation Authority general manager David Sattler shows off one of the new LED light fixtures being installed in the PCU Centre arenas. The new lights are significantly smaller in size compared to the old lamps, and produce more light while consuming less energy.

The LED lights will be significantly brighter. Sattler estimates between 25-30 per cent more light is generated compared to the old halide fixtures. The lights will also use about 50 per cent less power and can be turned on and off instantly -- eliminating the warm up and cool down period associated with the original lamps.

"It adds a more consistent light across the arena," Sattler says. "And with the quick fire on and off ... anyone who is looking to do special events or special effects for events that we host, you will now be able to incorporate those controls into your event."

The LED lights are expected to reduce the hydro consumption in the PCU Centre arenas by 200,000 to 400,000 kilowatt hours per year. That translates into estimated annual cost savings of between $11,000 to $14,000.

"The other huge savings comes in the maintenance aspect," Sattler notes. "The old lights had a life span of about three years and then bulbs and ballasts had to be replaced. That starts to get costly as the building ages."

"The new fixtures have a five-year warranty on labour and parts, and 10-years on the fixtures themselves," continues Sattler. "And they're good for about 100,000 hours. I don't think we're going to be changing them anytime soon."

Sattler adds, the PRRA had been looking into upgrading to LED lighting at the PCU Centre for over two years, but initially had concerns about the light quality cast on the arena.

"We've always been following along the new designs that have come out. The first phase (of arena LED lighting) didn't look or perform as well as touted," says Sattler. "But over time we found more and more that LED fixtures are performing to the standards required in arenas."

“And these ones definitely fit the bill. There is a significant improvement in lighting quality and light on ice level compared to our previous lamps."