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SPN OCT 2012 EnergySaving&GreenNews


www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk


SOLAR INSTALLATIONS GROW – DESPITE WRETCHED SUMMER


pool turned to solar photovoltaic technology this summer. Wokingham-based solar installer, InstaGen, helped the pool save money on its fuel bills and earn income from the feed-in tariff. InstaGen identified the pool’s flat roof as an area suitable for housing 40 InstaGen 245w modules.


It is estimated that the array will generate over 8,000kWh of electricity, enough to save over four


tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year. The energy generated will be used to power the pool’s heaters – the largest energy expense.


It’s an ironic statistic but figures for the first six months of 2012, which saw some of the worst UK weather for years, also saw a record number of solar power installations for mid size swimming pools. Statistics through EcoSolar Research showed 26 pools in England and Wales opted for a switch to complete solar energy in the first six months of the year in a bid to cut the rising cost of electricity and reduce carbon footprints.


“It’s the biggest movement we’ve seen in a while,” said an EcoSolar spokesman, “and it does show how concerned swimming pool owners are about eco issues. The fact that the sun may not have shone a lot during this summer will have an impact but the units also work with cloud cover.”


Solar energy continues to be an income generating option for some swimming pools.


Chesham open air swimming


Almost 150 solar modules are also now above Taunton’s swimming pool after the local council commissioned the installation of a solar PV array to help combat climbing energy bills.


The council predicts the solar array will help slash the carbon footprint by 18 tonnes a year. However, the council is also excited by the financial benefits provided by the array, earning an income of around £10,000 per year from the FiT power recycling scheme.


24/7 HELPLINE LAUNCHED AS POOL MANAGERS FAIL TO REACH ECO TARGETS


A new 24/7 helpline has been launched dedicated to swimming pool managers to make it easier to reach environmental targets such as cutting emissions in pool and spa applications. The free of charge service from Powermaster is in response to growing demand from managers who report they are under continuing pressure to stay green and reduce costs.


Also included is a no-obligation survey which will reveal areas in which energy can be saved. One of the most popular energy saving methods tried and tested in a variety of pools is fitting a Variable Speed Drive (VSD) to the motor that powers the pool pump. VSDs regulate energy use in accordance with what the pool needs to function at any one time or by using a pre-set plan, which might, for instance, turn the motor down at night-time.


As most swimming pool motors are over-specified, they use far more energy than needed. VSDs do not reduce the efficiency of the motor; instead they help it respond to the


actual need to move water around the pool.


Technicians can advise callers on safe and efficient chemicals management. For instance Powermaster’s Integrated Water and Energy Management System (IWEMS) has saved up to 70% of electrical energy. The system also reduces the chemical costs by 30%. A typical application will see 50% savings in power on the overall facility, in addition to the resultant carbon emission reductions.


i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION


F POWERMASTER (WAKEFIELD) LTD ( 01924 272696 : www.power-master.co.uk


POOLS POWER DOWN ON ELECTRICITY BILLS


Technology which lowers electricity voltage has been having spectacular success in reducing operating costs at commercial swimming pools. Power bills have been reduced by up to 40% at a number of test pools with a system which monitors energy consumption and allows staff to be much more conscious of the electricity being used.


The system, voltage optimisation, was introduced at a Bristol commercial pool outlet and at the Foxhills Hotel and Resort in Surrey which has four swimming pools and has cut its bills by £15,000 a year. The Surrey club was running up monthly power bills of around £13,000 and an annual power consumption of more than 2 million kilowatt hours.


Facilities Director Ben Biggs said: “Our energy demand grows year on year and with it our bills rise so for some time we had been considering ways of tackling this problem.” Made by British manufacturer iVolt, the technology works by lowering the incoming voltage to the estate down to a steady 220v (+/- 1.5%) – the level at which electrical equipment works most efficiently. The Bristol pool reported ‘considerable energy savings’ over a six month test period.


The system records the peaks and troughs of energy use, to help staff monitor consumption.


Ben Biggs added: “By monitoring our energy consumption in real time it provides crucial information which I can then take to my staff to make them more conscious of the electricity we’re using – and in many cases wasting.”


i FOR FURTHER INFORMATION


F IVOLT UK LIMITED ( 0845 075 8580 : www.ivoltsystems.co.uk


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