Sports and entertainment company AEG and NHL ice hockey team the LA Kings have teamed up with BluEco Technology Group to launch a new environmental technology solution for arenas and public facilities around the world.
The technology has been dubbed BluEco Liquid Crystalline Turbex (LCT). It produces pure water while cleaning indoor air and is designed to significantly reduce energy costs for arena and facility operators and owners.
It is also hoped that the BluEco LCT will improve match-day comfort levels for spectators and players alike, and provide material operational cost reductions to teams and arena management.
AEG and BluEco will further the NHL’s Greener Rinks campaign by introducing the new technology to facilities around the world. The proprietary BlueEco LCT is a molecular level environmental air-flow management system. The solution simultaneously produces high-quality water and manages the interior air-flow of a facility, cleansing the air from particulates and reducing an arena’s reliance on the municipal water systems to create and maintain its ice sheet.
The system was piloted at the Kings’ Staples Center (pictured) home during the 2017-18 NHL season and the initiative saved the arena hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.
AEG president and chief executive Dan Beckerman said: “Through our partnership with BluEco, we have introduced an innovative technology that addresses the two most critical issues facing hockey franchises and venue owners: the quantity of water needed to create ice sheets and the quality of the ice that forms. We are excited to launch this new system in conjunction with the NHL which shares our vision and commitment to sustainability. For more than a decade, AEG has been dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint and water usage, which is especially important in water-stressed areas like Los Angeles. Our mission is to facilitate the adoption this game-changing advancement with other teams and arenas, making an impact on hockey and conservation.”
AEG Sports’ chief operating officer, Kelly Cheeseman, added: “Our partnership with BluEco positions us on the forefront of an innovative technology that we plan to bring to arenas around North America and globally. By strategically and efficiently managing indoor air-flow, we no longer need to run air-conditioning at low temperatures to maintain quality ice, thereby delivering fans a better arena experience. Additionally, the BluEco LCT system is not only cheaper to run but makes our existing HVAC system more efficient and less energy consuming.”
Image: Eric Chan
