Leisure Centre Utility & Energy Deals

Electricity can be five times more expensive than gas which is why it is so important to review costs.  The annual electricity costs of a leisure centre represent up to two thirds of total energy costs and so you need to ensure your leisure centre is paying the best price for its electricity.

Utility Bidder will ensure the move from one provider to the other goes swimmingly and if you do have any queries or question we are by your side throughout the process.  It really is that simple.

We are confident we will save you money – how much, depends on numerous factors but one useful tip – the earlier you get in touch the better, even if you have a year to run on your existing contract.

Many swimming pool areas have been designed to let in lots of natural light and so encourage staff to get into the habit of not switching lights on if there is plenty of daylight available.  If you do have quiet zones or relaxation zones, keep lighting to a minimum.

Replacing your lighting with more efficient versions will also save your leisure centre a lot of money, for example, tungsten bulbs could be swapped to compact fluorescent light bulbs which last a lot longer.  If, after carrying out a lighting audit, you decide to replace or upgrade your lighting significantly, your leisure centre could be eligible for an interest free loan from The Carbon Trust.

It’s time to stop treading water

Another area where you could make significant energy savings is reviewing the heating and ventilation system of your leisure centre’s swimming pool.  This will be a considerable energy user and by being aware of simple things such as optimum water temperatures could make a big difference.  If the pool water is over heated it can cause the pool water to evaporate.  This means you will have to continually run a high ventilation rate and this will, over time, also cause condensation which is damaging to the fabric of your building.

A training pool temperature should be around 26ºC while a leisure pool should be around 29ºC – and remember the pool hall itself should usually be heated to 1ºC above the pool water temperature.

Investing in and using a whole pool cover will also help reduce the utility costs of your leisure centre’s swimming pool and while it may seem like a costly capital outlay, in terms of energy savings made, it should have paid for itself within a couple of years.

So, stop treading water when it comes to reducing your swimming pool’s energy consumption and ensure all staff are trained on the correct temperature for the pool as well as using the correct lighting.

Clients of your leisure centre want to be ensure they feel comfortable at all times – however, there is not a one size fits all, when it comes to optimum temperatures.   In an area where people are enjoying sport activities you won’t want as much heat and can even try 12ºC – certainly anything warmer than 18ºC will be far too warm.  Meanwhile, clients may start to feel the cold after a session in the gym or in the pool and so keep changing areas around the 20-25ºC mark.

And remember, just like at home, even turning a thermostat down by 1ºC will see significant savings.

In order to get the best possible contract for your energy, it’s important you can identify where your leisure centre’s energy is being used – and when.  Choosing the best gas and electricity provider will depend not just on the consumption amount but also on the consumption times.

Conduct an energy audit.  Write down where you are using the most and see if you can monitor consumption over a week.

Where can energy savings be made? – Most leisure centre staff find areas they can improve the very first time they do this.

Once you have identified areas where you can make savings, involve as many staff as you can – giving staff ownership of energy saving responsibilities will make them feel included.

Devise your own checklist for every area of the site.  Start outside with external signage and lighting and then move indoors – reception heating and lighting, sports hall, pool, café, changing room, staff areas, gym, etc.

Let your clients work up a sweat in a gym, while you can take it easy with some simple ways to save on energy. In the gym, much of that energy intensive equipment is left on – even when not in use.  Again, it’s back to your staff to ensure that equipment is powered down when not in use – this will also extend the life of the equipment.

You don’t have to be out of your depth when it comes to saving energy in your leisure centre.  The Utility Bidder energy team will work with you to find an electricity supplier that could potentially save up to 20% on your current providers’ renewal quote.  That’s a lot of money.

So, dive in to Utility Bidder’s pool of energy switching knowledge and you’ll find yourself saving £££s on your energy prices.  Call us today on : 0800 007 4001. Or see more about our services here: business energy, business gas, business electricity