St Gervais’ ice rink
Fire and Ice – St Gervais’ ice rink gets a new solar powered roof
St Gervais’ ice rink, built almost 50 years ago, is currently undergoing significant works and over 3.7 million Euros of investment to bring it up to date.
Among some of the modifications, the roof is being replaced to bring in into line with new insulation standards and to also allow it to house solar panels. The 1244m2 of roof space dedicate to solar will in fact be rented out to a company who will place it’s panels and then resell the electricity generated to the grid. Not only will the commune benefit from the rent made on the roof space but, after 25 years when the lease expires, they will become the owners of the panels and will be in turn able to sell the energy back to the grid.
Among other changes to the facility is the addition of 8,500 LED lights to illuminate the sides of the building.
The works are scheduled to be finished by end of 2010 so that it can open for the winter season, however, on the 11 August the ice rink will be opening to the public for an ABBA tribute band concert. For tickets see the office de tourisme site http://www.st-gervais.net/fr/detail_actu.aspx?Id=461#a
The ice rink’s update is an important venture given Annecy’s candidature for the 2018 Winter Olympics which would see St Gervais, as well as other towns in the Alps (Chamonix, Megève, Morzine / Avoriaz, Flaine, La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, Les Houches, La Plagne) hosting some of the games.
Furthermore, this is just part of the many ongoing investments in the town which, in the future, will include a new sport’s facility, new indoor and outdoor pools, a new school and nursery complex, and a major bridge and road diversion project. These, and the current ongoing facade repainting and general amelioration of the town centre, means that St Gervais has been polished and preened to the point it is unrecognisable from where it was even 7 years ago.
