The Aud

[jeffster]

For what it's worth, heat is generally something we have in abundance and usually we go to great lengths to get rid of it, even in the winter. I'm sure an environmentally-friendly snow melt-pit is feasible.

There are, as others have mentioned, with a heat exchange (taking heat from the refrigeration plant) to melt the snow. There are also concerns with this method, such as maintenance issues, but also health and safety. In layman's terms, it's best to have the plant do what it was primarily designed to do, remove heat from the ice pad.

I am unsure of how many government facilities use a heat exchanger, for whatever reason (can be to help heat the arena, heat water for the showers, or use the heat to melt snow) many choose not to use one.