Jesmond Community Leisure – Pool and Gym
Jesmond Pool Saved 9.3 % on their annual energy consumption and reduced usage by over 27,000 kWh per year with Voltage Optimsiation
Leisure Centres
Leisure centres across the UK provide people with access to local, affordable exercise and wellness facilities. They play a key role in improving overall health, as well as supporting many grassroots sports.
However, the leisure sector was one of those most impacted by the energy crisis, with surging energy prices forcing leisure centres across the country to shut or cut down on services and opening hours. Across the UK, around £938 million is spent annually on leisure centre energy costs, a figure that is rapidly increasing. Energy costs are second only to labour as the most significant expense for most leisure centres, and can make up as much as 30% of overall costs.
Unlike some other sectors that provide important public services, such as libraries, leisure centres have never been able to secure an increased discount on energy costs. Many are turning to innovative solutions to ensure that they can meet the rising costs of energy without impacting on costs for the public or impacting on the services and facilities available.
Energy challenges faced by leisure centres
As part of the public sector, leisure centres have come under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint as the Government urges local authorities to lead by example in the UK’s efforts to reach net zero. This further stretches already narrow margins, as any investment in reducing energy costs also has to factor in improved sustainability.
While all leisure centres have faced significant cost pressures, those that maintain pool facilities have found things particularly challenging. Hundreds have already resorted to lowering temperatures or reducing opening hours in order to afford the increases in already substantial heating costs.
While the 2023 Budget brought some relief in the shape of a £63 million funding boost, administrator Sports England is already predicting that the scheme will be oversubscribed. Currently, around 800 leisure centres across England maintain pools, where the investment required to properly tackle huge energy costs is significant.
Technologies that can help leisure centres
Taking proactive steps to reduce energy spend is increasingly vital. Reducing leisure centre energy consumption plays a vital role in this, mitigating energy costs while also improving sustainability. There are a wide variety of ways that most leisure centres can improve energy efficiency, from minor behavioural changes to major investments in new technologies. Voltage optimisation is rapidly growing in popularity in the leisure sector, delivering a substantial reduction in consumption and associated carbon emissions by lowering and conditioning voltage across a site.
An increasing number have already unlocked the energy saving in leisure centres that voltage optimisation can represent.
Stockton SPlash Case Study
Stockton Splash is a modern leisure facility in central Stockton that we worked with to lower their annual energy consumption by 10.2%
CHALLENGE
Due to Tees Active Ltd being a non-profit-distributing company, it actively looks for ways to reduce energy consumption and costs across its portfolio.
SOLUTION
Following the analysis of the voltage profile on site, the Powerstar team recommended the installation of a Powerstar VO-LITE system with a fixed 20V reduction. Powerstar delivered a concept to completion, full supported service to the Stockton Splash facility.
Find out how we can help you with your businesses energy objectives
Related case studies
Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool
The Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool saved an annual 16.6% on their Energy consumption saving over 43 tonnes of CO2 emissions
Billingham Forum
Voltage optimisation reduced the facility’s annual electricity consumption by 189,591 kWh, an annual consumption savings of 8.8%
Cotswold Leisure Centre
Cotswold Leisure Centre Saved 8% on their annual energy which resulted in 54 tonnes less CO2 emissions being emitted and saving £7,800 per year.
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