The artificial outdoor ice rinks will be operated based on Jyväskylä energy-saving measures

The step-by-step opening is based on energy-saving measures. The goal of the City of Jyväskylä is to reduce energy consumption in the city as a whole and ensure the sufficiency of electricity during the heating season. The electricity saving measures also aim for financial savings. 

The saving measures will be seen in the city’s ice-skating venues

In order to reduce energy consumption and achieve financial savings, the sports services of the City of Jyväskylä need to increase the use of outdoor artificial ice rinks and natural ice that can be frozen during the 2022–2023 winter season.

Energy will be saved by opening the Vaajakoski, Palokka and Pohjanlammi outdoor artificial ice rinks for use by skaters on 28 November. There will be a delay of two weeks by comparison to last year, as in 2021 the outdoor artificial ice rink skating season began in week 46. In addition, the artificial ice at Puistokoulu School will be changed to natural ice during the 2022–2023 winter season. 

If decent frozen conditions are obtained during the month of November, launching the freezing of the outdoor artificial ice rinks earlier than what has been previously announced will be possible. The freezing of the natural ice rinks will commence when weather conditions permit, and the ice will be ready for skating under good conditions in about a week. The public will be informed about the opening of the ice separately.

The total number of ice rinks will be condensed: planning is to take place with the schools and daycare centres

The total number of natural ice fields to be frozen and maintained has been reduced for this winter season as part of the centralisation of resources for the maintenance of sports conditions. Natural ice for freezing in Jyväskylä during the 2022–2023 winter season totals 57 skating venues.

The service network changes for frozen natural ice during the 2022–2023 winter season will apply to natural ice fields that have natural ice from sports parks or school fields in the immediate vicinity. In order to make the service network of skating rinks more efficient, schools and kindergartens were asked for a statement on changes to the service network of frozen natural ice for the 2022–2023 winter season.

The opening hours for ice rinks and public skating shifts can be seen on the City website

The outdoor artificial ice rinks are used on weekdays by the pupils of schools and daycare centres. On weeknights, the outdoor artificial ice hosts club shifts as well as public skating shifts at no charge. The Palokka, Vaajakoski and Pohjalammi fields are also intended for playing with rackets, and in Viitaniemi you can play with rackets in a separately designated area. At Puistokoulu School’s field, the shifts have been reserved for skating only.  The opening hours of the outdoor artificial ice rinks, public skating shifts, and exceptional opening hours can be found on the Public Ice Skating website operated by the sports services.

The City of Jyväskylä will save on electricity in many different ways during the coming winter

The methods of saving electricity during the winter to come have been surveyed by the City. The city is involved in the national Down by a Degree campaign, which encourages all Finns to undertake energy savings measures due to the energy crisis. Through its own actions, the City of Jyväskylä wants to reduce the use of electricity and thereby moderate price peaks as well as ensure that there will be enough electricity to last during the entire winter heating season. Economically, the savings over the year will be, in total, EUR 0.5–1 million. The final amount saved will depend on the market price of electricity.

In addition to delaying the outdoor ice skating season, electricity will be saved by, for example, lowering the room temperature in offices, schools, daycare centres and other city facilities by 1–2 degrees, rationalising the heating of saunas in swimming pool facilities, and turning off outdoor lighting in public areas at night.