LED upgrades enhance efficiency at South Ridge Recreation Centre and Medalta in the Historic Clay District

Medicine Hat - The City of Medicine Hat has completed new energy‑efficient lighting upgrades at two local facilities, supported through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s (MCCAC) Community Energy Conservation program and funded by the Government of Alberta.

The latest round of work focused on replacing aging and high‑consumption lighting at Medalta Potteries and the South Ridge Recreation Centre (YMCA). With a contribution of $69,976 from the MCCAC, the City upgraded a combined 312 fixtures and retrofitted 408 fluorescent tubes with LED technology.

City staff prioritized areas where lighting systems were nearing the end of their service life or using older technology such as metal halide, high‑pressure sodium, and fluorescent lamps. The new LED fixtures use approximately 30 to 50 per cent less electricity, contributing to lower utility requirements and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Based on the MCCAC’s lighting calculator, the improvements are expected to reduce lifetime GHG emissions by roughly 686 tonnes and generate an estimated $24,630 in annual utility savings.

“These upgrades demonstrate how targeted investments can make a real difference,” said Kevin Schaaf, Acting Manager of Facilities Management. “Being able to retrofit existing fixtures helps stretch project dollars further while minimizing disruptions for facility users. We appreciate the support from the MCCAC and look forward to continued collaboration.”

“We are pleased that Medicine Hat has returned to the MCCAC for more savings,” said Trina Innes, Executive Director of the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. “This latest project cuts another $24,000 off their utility bills. We admire their commitment to energy efficiency and are glad we can help facilitate it.”

The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta. Funding for the Community Energy Conservation Program is provided by the Government of Alberta.

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