01 February 2010
Caerphilly leisure centre is a popular venue for people of all ages who are looking to get fit and active. Now the building itself is getting into shape thanks to a range of energy efficiency schemes.
The centre has accessed a range of funding through the Local Authority Energy Financing scheme (LAEF) to improve its green credentials.
The money has been used to install a range of energy saving equipment such as: -
- Energy efficient lighting in the gym, swimming pool, public areas and changing rooms and improved lighting controls in the squash courts.
- Installation of swimming pool covers.
- Improved management of air conditioning and heating systems.
- Draft proofing of doors and windows.
- Insulation of hot pipes and valves in the plant room.
This investment is already resulting in significant reductions in both gas and electricity bills at the centre. On electricity alone there is a clear reduction of 15% on energy consumption when compared for the periods 07/08 and 08/09.
There are significant carbon savings associated with all these technologies and they also result in a more comfortable environment for leisure centre customers and staff.
Centre manager, John Poyner, said, "These small changes are helping to make a big difference to the efficiency of the whole building. We spend all our time encouraging customers to improve their lifestyles and become healthier, so we thought we should lead by example and give the centre a health check and see where we could make improvements."
Caerphilly county borough council is committed to becoming cleaner and greener and has a 10 year Carbon Reduction Strategy which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 45% of 07/08 levels.
Renewable Energy is defined as energy that can be both produced and replaced by the environment. The council is beginning to embrace this concept and there are already a number of our buildings with examples of this technology at work.
Photovoltaic solar panels are being installed at a number of local schools as well as council-owned buildings such as the Gateway Business Centre in Tredomen.
Ground Source Heat Pumps providing efficient heating systems have also been installed at the Gateway Centre and the new Penallta House council HQ.
There are also Carbon Dioxide savings associated with these technologies as they do not release CO2 into the atmosphere. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity and ground source heat pumps make use of the heat naturally produced in the ground, this heat is then used within the building.
For more information contact the council's Energy Team on 01443 863329.
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