As part of the drive, the WCF is offering interest free loans of up to $100,000 (£66,000/€78,000) or 50 per cent of the costs involved in a project to help limit the environmental impact of curling centres, while encouraging associations to cut energy usage and prevent energy loss, which will also improve operating costs.

"This is an excellent opportunity for our member associations to help curling facilities improve their environmental impact whilst also improving energy efficiency," WCF President Kate Caithness said.

"We hope that many of our members will take advantage of this initiative and help be part of the ever increasing drive to protect the environment.

"In doing so it will obviously serve to reduce the amount of money currently being spent on energy consumption."

The project forms part of the WCF's commitment to help its members build and maintain curling facilities as does the New Facility Loan programme, which offers up to $50,000 (£33,000/€39,000) in funding per new curling sheet developed.

Both facility support programmes require the loans to be repaid over a ten-year period and there is the opportunity to take advantage of a deferred payment scheme to help with the purchase of major pieces of equipment, such as curling stones, ice scrapers and ice plants.

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