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Town of Whitby
Energy Generation / District Energy / Home & Building Efficiency / Municipal Buildings & Operations /

W6Whitby Sports Complex's Geothermal System

Progress

On time
  • Not started
  • Feasibility
  • Planning
  • Implementation
  • Completed
The vision for the Whitby Sports Complex (WSC) is to create a sustainable, multi-purpose gathering space for inclusive community and sports and programming that would serve as a place for residents of all ages and abilities to connect, learn, play, and be active. To achieve this vision the Whitby Sports Complex has been designed to include a twin pad arena, an indoor aquatics facility with leisure pool and 10 lane 25m lap pool, three-lane walking/running tracking above a double gym, multipurpose spaces, meeting rooms, arts and cultural spaces, and associated administration spaces. The WSC will obtain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification as well as the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) Zero Carbon Building (ZCB).

To achieve LEED Gold and CaGBC ZCB certifications the design of the WSC will eliminate fossil fuel use for heating, use renewable energy and reduce the use of high global warming potential refrigerants. The building will be serviced by a geothermal system to supply its heating and cooling requirements. Some interesting facts about the geothermal system include:
• A total of 58 geothermal pipes have been drilled into the ground at a minimum depth of 600 feet (183 metres). The depth of each geothermal pipe is equivalent to 3 hockey arenas
• The length of the pipes is equivalent to 97 soccer fields
• The WSC geothermal system can heat the equivalent of 50 detached houses
• The unique energy system at Whitby leverages energy sharing between heating and cooling systems to reuse energy within the building, reducing overall energy consumption.
• The remaining thermal energy for space conditioning comes from the ground loop.
• The geothermal heat pumps will provide nearly 100% of space heating and cooling for the facility from the ground and energy sharing.
• The building heating systems require no natural gas for energy production.
• Hot water for the building is primarily provided through recovering heat from the ice-making chillers for the hockey rink.

Responsible organizations

Contact persons

  • Sarah Shields
    Project Manager, Sustainability and Climate Change
    Town of Whitby
Information updated 08.05.2025

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