Hartman Embraces Wind Energy at Park City Arena
Wichita Business Journal - by Daniel McCoy wichita.bizjournals.com
The blustery Kansas wind brought with it a return to winter’s chill. But at Hartman Arena, the same wind making a January morning uncomfortable will soon bring with it some good as well.
Hartman Arena is installing a 150-foot wind turbine capable of generating enough power to run the entire facility on nonevent days.
For arena owner Wink Hartman, who has spent a lifetime in the energy business, the tower is a way of putting his money where his mouth is.
“Green initiative is 90 percent talk and 10 percent walk,” says Hartman, also the owner of Hartman Oil Co. “Green is nothing more than a fancy catch word for politicians to drop.”
There is nothing political in his motive, he says. Growing up in the energy business provides him the perspective to understand that conservation and alternative fuel sources are vital to a sustainable success.
“I’m a third generation oil and gas producer,” he says. “That being said, anybody today needs to be abreast of our surroundings and environment. And I was committed to using alternative energy at the Hartman Arena.”
Hartman hopes that, by installing a wind turbine, he can serve as an example of how to turn talk into action.
Hartman purchased the tower through Enertech Inc., the Newton-based company that refurbished the Mitsubishi wind turbine for the arena.
Jacque Wedel, the arena’s sales and marketing manager, says the $385,000 turbine will pay for itself in 6 to 7 years at current utility rates.
And when the Park City arena hosts an event, Manager John Nath says the turbine generation will be combined with Westar Energy Co. service to provide 1,200 amps of usable energy.
A Point of Pride
Jack Whitson, city administrator for Park City, says the town has been supportive of both the arena and the wind turbine. Apart from obtaining special permission to build a structure above 35 feet in height — and approval from the FAA that required aircraft warning lights be placed on the tower — there were no obstacles to installing the turbine.
Whitson says anyone located within 1,000 feet of the tower, whether on city or county property, was notified. No one complained.
“It’s gone very smoothly,” he says of the entire project. “In fact, we’re kind of proud that they put (the tower) in.”
But the tower is far from the arena’s only green initiative.
Nath says all the steel being used in the arena is recycled, while much of the other construction material — from insulation and bathroom fixtures to the plastic in the seats — is recycled as well. All the dirt moved for the project stayed on site for the outdoor amphitheater opening in 2010, and the arena will include the Waste Connections Recycling Center.
The focus on being environmentally friendly will even be passed on to those attending events at the arena. Nath says anyone driving a hybrid vehicle or carpooling will park free.
“It’s about the idea of going green,” Nath says. “And as (Hartman) says, ‘It’s just the right thing to do.’”
Hartman Arena wind turbine:
Propeller diameter: 90 feet.
Power output: 250 kilowatts at peak capacity. The turbine contains a governor which automatically shuts it down in wind speeds greater than 55 mph.
Cost: $385,000.
Projected annual energy savings: $60,000.
Source: John Nath, Hartman arena manager.
Hartman’s new arena
in Park City going green
By Chris Hunter, The Ark Valley News
August 07, 2008
At a time when concerns of global warming and energy prices are rising, Hartman Arena, which is slated to open near 77th North and I-135 in April 2009, is going green.
“It’s way beyond its time that people started realizing that conserving energy is an important part of how we are going to have to start living our lives,” said arena manager John Nath. “It is the socially responsible thing to do.”
Nath said many factors have played into the decision to go green, including the fact that the seating bowl is going to be 25 feet under ground.
“Number one, we are under ground,” Nath said. “That saves a lot on heating and cooling costs because we are using the earth as insulation.”
Nath said the decision to build the arena under ground has also helped keep energy costs down.
“It’s a balanced site,” Nath said. “All of the earth we had to move and dig out of the hole remains onsite. We did not have to truck it anywhere, saving those fuel costs and not having the trucking emissions, and we did not have to move anything in.”
Besides keeping energy costs down by building under ground, Nath said recycled materials would be used in the building process and would start going up this week.
“The steel is 100 percent recycled,” Nath said. “There is about 60 percent in the insulation, about 40 percent in the seating. The counters we are going to be using for the concession stands and tables are going to be recycled paper. It’s very, very cool the stuff we are doing. Obviously, all of the heating and cooling and ventilation stuff is very high performance and energy saving and we are going to have energy saving water services with the restrooms.”
Nath said plans are in the works for the arena to eventually supply its own power.
“We are actually looking at putting some windmills up and generating our own power,” Nath said. “It will be very, very high tech. Very modern.”
Advertising will also take a modern approach as Hartman Arena will feature an all-digital delivery system. Advertisements will be shown on 50-inch LCD screens.
In an attempt to urge others to go green, Hartman Arena is offering incentives to attendees.
“There is going to be a parking fee per car,” Nath said. “You will get free parking if you drive a hybrid. You will get free parking if you carpool too.”
Nath said that while there are not very many arenas like Hartman, more may start popping up around the country.
“This is a prototype,” Nath said. “This would certainly be applicable to many other markets.”
Hartman will feature seating for 5,000 for sporting events and 7,000 for concerts. Currently the Wichita Wild indoor football team is the only sports team with a contract at the arena. However, Nath said others are welcome. The Wild will be in their fourth season when the arena opens.
“We are obviously open to talk to anybody who wants to play in our facility but the only thing we have for sure is football,” Nath said.
Other events have been scheduled for the new arena, including Valley Center High School’s graduation.
“I have already sent them a contract,” Nath said. “Hopefully, they will be a standard client of ours every year, as well as several others. We have talked to Goddard, two USD 259, Derby. We would love to have all of the schools graduate at our place.”
Even though building the arena has been a challenge, Nath said the staff is enjoying the process.
“We are very excited,” Nath said. “This is the most challenging, most rewarding, the most fun I have had in my 30 years in the business.”