30-31 ENERGY SAVINGS:SPN Master pages 19/11/2009 18:28 Page 30
spnfeature
Energy savings
A look at the latest efforts made to run pools more efficiently and be eco friendly
EFFICIENT HEAT PUMPS STILL Heat pumps play key
KEY TO ENERGY SAVINGS
role on Government
energy target
Low maintenance costs and energy The council turned to the services of
efficiency. A centre for outdoor learning local pool retailer, Merlin Leisure of A new Government report The UK
opportunities for children, Mersea Outdoor Colchester. Supply Curve for Renewable Heat,
Swimming Pool near Colchester has been “The council naturally wanted to select looks at how to meet the target for
the scene of many ‘firsts’ so it is fitting that the highest quality system with the lowest 15% of all heating to come from
it has now got its very first heating system. maintenance costs and after doing my renewable sources by 2020. It
It has been 30 years in coming but it has homework it was clear that the new Calorex concludes that it expects heat pumps,
been worth waiting for. This pool heater Propac commercial heat pump won along with biomass boilers, to provide
isn’t just any pool heater, this hands down. I have long the most significant contribution to
one is special as it was been a fan of Calorex so I meeting this target.
the first installation of was happy to make my The bulk of heat pumps are
the brand new Calorex recommendation.” expected to be used in the domestic
Propac heat pump for Manager of the pool, sector and there are already incentives
commercial pools Paul Button, says: “The in place for installing them. The
launched this year. Propac was installed in late technology was included in the £65m
There are many that spring and what a made available for low-carbon
would say that difference it has made! We, community heating systems and small
swimming in an and particularly the kids, scale renewables in this year’s Budget.
unheated pool is feel that it is money well The proposed changes to Part L of
backbone forming and spent. It is perhaps a slight the Building Regulations also regard
the stuff of childhood exaggeration to say that it heat pumps highly, seeing them as the
but after 30 years of has completely transformed best way of meeting carbon reduction
numerous children the children’s experience targets after wood chip and wood
emerging various but it’s not far short of it. pellet boilers.
shades of blue from the The pool is an integral part Five-thousand heat pumps were
outdoor pool at Mersea, of this centre and the kids sold in the UK in 2007. But by 2020
Essex County Council are now able to get so that figure could top 2 million,
took the popular much more out of according to a study published by the
decision to invest in a swimming. Instead of seeing Department of Energy and Climate
heating system for the it as a test of endurance, Change at the end of July.
pool which is open from they now relish the idea So what’s the attraction? Heat
April to September of jumping in and, what’s pumps aren’t a new technology – after
come rain or shine. more, they stay in!” all, air-conditioning units use them.
But what is gaining ground in the UK
are the air-to-water heat pumps that
can replace conventional systems.
They work by extracting heat energy
from large volumes of outside air. The
benefit is that they can deliver more
heat energy than the electrical energy
it takes to run them.
The type of systems on offer
normally work most efficiently with
low temperature heating, such as
underfloor heating systems running
at about 35°C. The DECC report says
the number of air source heat pumps
will grow to 720,000 units by 2020,
as developers and homeowners
MERLIN LEISURE
plump for their cheapness and
( 01206 766402
convenience over ground source heat
: www.merlinswimmingpools.co.uk
pumps.
30 Swimming Pool News December 09 Digital edition available at www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
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