Crews complete LED upgrade at two city-owned facilities

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 26, 2026.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

New energy-efficient lighting upgrades have recently been completed at the Medalta Potteries and the South Ridge YMCA Recreation Centre as energy conservation work around Medicine Hat continues.

On Tuesday the city reported crews upgraded a total of 312 fixtures and retrofitted 408 fluorescent tubes with LED technology at both locations, expected to reduce electricity usage by 30-50 per cent.

The upgrades cost approximately $70,000 and were funded by the Government of Alberta through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s (MCCAC) Community Energy Conservation program.

The MCCAC is a partnership between Alberta municipalities and the province that provides funding for community energy conservation projects.

Based on calculations the improvements are estimated to save the city more than $24,000 annually in utility savings and reduce lifetime GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 686 tonnes.

“We are pleased that Medicine Hat has returned to the MCCAC for more savings. 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,” said Trina Innes, executive director of the MCCAC.

City crews prioritized areas where lighting systems were nearing the end of their service life and systems using older technology such as metal halide, high-pressure sodium and fluorescent lamps.

“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.”

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