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    Slapshot for Efficiency: NHL partnering with Energy, Lighting firms bringing LED to rinks

    Jan. 13, 2023
    The partnership is aimed at helping hockey rink owners lower their carbon footprint, reduce their energy use, and lower operating costs, while also delivering an enhanced experience for athletes and spectators
    Image credit TravelOK
    Ice Rink O Ilers 63c19acd14da8

    Brightcore Energy is partnering with the National Hockey League (NHL) and Dutch lighting company Signify to bring energy-efficient LED and connected lighting solutions to community ice rinks across the U.S.

    The partnership is aimed at helping hockey rink owners lower their carbon footprint, reduce their energy use, and lower operating costs, while also delivering an enhanced experience for athletes and spectators.

    “Youth hockey is the life blood of the NHL and an opportunity for thousands of kids to enjoy this wonderful sport,” said Mike Richter, a former professional ice hockey player and current President of Brightcore Energy. “One of the largest single expenses in rinks is energy costs. Lowering these costs lowers the barrier for young boys and girls to enjoy this game.”

    Richter’s passion for ice hockey began in community rinks in his hometown of Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he noticed the facilities were not well maintained and did not operate at optimal performance.

    During his 15-year stint with the New York Rangers, he was a three-time NHL) All-Star, a Stanley Cup champion, and an Olympic medallist. Richter had a career .904 save percentage average and more than 200 NHL victories.  

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    “The NHL is committed to advancing sustainable business practices and reducing the environmental impact of all levels of hockey for future generations of players and fans,” said Max Paulsen, Director, Business Development, NHL. “Upgrading to LED and connected lighting is better for our planet – and offers a practical and cost-effective solution for rinks across North America.”

    Brightcore Energy is a provider of end-to-end clean energy solutions to the commercial and institutional market, including commercial and community solar, high-efficiency renewable heating and cooling (geothermal), LED lighting and controls, electric vehicle charging, battery storage, smart building solutions and other emerging technologies.

    Signify, formerly known as Philips Lighting, is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and serves as an official partner of NHL.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.