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The first phase of improvements have been completed at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston-super-Mare.
Fully funded from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund, brand-new electric solar (PV) systems have been installed which are estimated to save over 28 tonnes of carbon a year.
The second phase of works at Hutton Moor Leisure Centre have also started following a successful application to the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS).
The grant of £2,244,518, will be used to replace the six gas-powered boilers with air source heat pumps, removing any reliance on gas to heat the centre’s leisure facilities, which includes two swimming pools. The grant will also be used to upgrade the insulation throughout the building and replace radiators to make the building more efficient. All of the PSDS-funded improvements, which will be completed by March, will make an annual estimated saving of 340 tonnes of carbon emissions.
These works also follow £1.7m of investment by the council for urgent works to replace a substantial area of roof, poolside air-handling units, water storage tanks and the passenger lift.
Portishead Open Air Pool has nearly completed the installation of a PV system and solar thermal power to the site, which will use solar power to heat the water and make a large impact on the energy usage of the facility. The funding, from Sport England, was secured by North Somerset Council on the pool’s behalf.
The Council has also secured further funding from the Swimming Pool Support Fund for Strode Leisure Centre in Clevedon to provide covers for the two swimming pools and install a new energy efficient backwash system for the swimming pools. This system is one of a few across England that Sport England are funding to understand the benefits of this new technology. This new system is estimated to provide a yearly energy saving of 31,758kWh along with 1357.2m3 of supply water.
Cllr Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s cabinet member for Culture and Leisure said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve secured further funding to add energy saving technology to additional swimming pools.
“All of these projects will help in our goal to become a carbon neutral council by 2030.”