A leading slatted cover supplier is calling on the UK pool industry to pool resources when it comes to energy efficiency.
Alan Thorne, the managing director of Ocea pool covers, believes the industry can do much more to promote its good practice when it comes to energy costs.
“Energy efficient products such as pool covers can have a huge effect on the amount of overall energy used to maintain and run a swimming pool, whether that is a small back garden pool right through to a 50m commercial pool,” says Alan.
“Variable speed pumps, heat pumps and thoughtful environmental control all contribute to an energy efficient operation,” he continues.
“The pool industry can maximise that marketing potential by pooling resources and working together I am sure.
“We would like to hear from any like-minded companies interested in promoting energy conservation.”
The majority of responsible pool owners, both residential and commercial, now understand the need for their pools to be as energy efficient as possible. Going ‘green’ is helpful in protecting the environment, but it can also translate into cost savings, too, so there’s an added incentive to make a change.
“Most people are now opting for energy efficient pools, more so than ever before,” comments Tim Bareham of Cresta Leisure. “It is partly down to an increase in environmental awareness generally, as well as the rise in energy prices, and of course the allure of cost savings that can be achieved over time.”
Tim adds: “Although energy efficient methods are generally more expensive to install, the benefits are huge. You’ve got to speculate to accumulate.”
Huge price rises in gas, electricity and water tariffs have added tens of millions of pounds of costs to the country’s annual community swimming bill.
Consequently, local authorities and leisure operators are finding themselves under more pressure than ever to demonstrate effective energy efficiency.
Peter Marshall of Brenntag advises: “All pools, whether residential or commercial, should have the ability to monitor the energy that is being used on water usage, water heating, the amount of water lost to back wash, and the costs associated with fans and air heating.
“Without this information, the ability to be efficient is affected as most sites run off one meter for each utility and it therefore becomes impossible to determine the savings that are being generated.”
It is estimated that a pool running at 55% humidity with a pool temperature of 30°C and an air temperature of 31°C will lose approximately two cubic metres of water per day with no cover in place. The more water that is displaced, the more energy required to heat it and ultimately the greater the cost. An effective dehumidification system is essential in controlling humidity within the pool hall but if evaporation rates are high, then it’s got to work even harder.
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