Energy solutions for sports centres, leisure centres, and gyms in Sussex
Sports and leisure centres have some of the highest energy costs of any business, with a combined annual cost of £938 million.
Power hungry fitness equipment, expansive facilities, long opening hours, and the need to maintain comfort for members mean energy costs have a big impact on profitability. And things will only get worse as gas prices continue to rise around the world.
Add to this the increasing expectation for gyms and sports facilities to become more environmentally sustainable, and facilities managers have a real challenge on their hands.
As a trusted social enterprise who can provide fully-funded solar for sports and leisure centres, BHESCo offer an easy, risk-free pathway towards lower bills and energy security.
By partnering with BHESCo to introduce a modern, data-driven energy performance strategy with on-site renewable energy, sports and leisure centres across Sussex can drive down costs and carbon emissions for decades ahead.
. . .
How sports and leisure centres can reduce energy bills with solar PV
Introducing on-site solar power is the quickest and easiest way for leisure facilities to save money on energy bills.
By working with BHESCo, sports centres can install solar power for no upfront cost and absolutely no risk.
The benefits of BHESCo-funded solar panels include:
Instantly lower energy bills
Your leisure centre buys electricity from the solar panels at a cost that is significantly cheaper than the electricity provided by your energy supplier.
Energy security
You are protected from the ups and downs of energy markets. The price you pay is fixed for the length of the contract (usually 25 years).
Option to add battery storage
Get even bigger savings by adding a battery. As well as letting you store solar energy, you can also charge the battery with cheap grid electricity through a ‘Time of Use’/ ‘Smart’ tariff.
Great PR for your business
Differentiate yourself from competitors by demonstrating your commitment to sustainability.
Introduce low-carbon heating and cooling to your sports centre
Sports and leisure facilities must maintain a comfortable temperature all year round, especially if there’s a swimming pool.
Historically, these buildings have relied on large gas boilers to provide heating and hot water, but modern low-carbon technologies can provide both heating and cooling options for less cost and much less carbon.
Air to air heat pumps
Air to air heat pumps provide low-carbon heating in winter and air-conditioning in summer.
When combined with solar PV and battery storage they can provide a very cheap source of heating and cooling.
Hot air/ cold air is delivered throughout the building by indoor fan units.
Learn more about air-to-air heat pumps.
[image left: An air-to-air heat pump funded, owned, and operated by BHESCo at a facility in Plumpton Green].
Air to water heat pumps
Air to water heat pumps can be used to provide hot water to swimming pools and showers as well as providing heat to rooms through radiators or underfloor heating systems.
They can be combined with solar PV and battery storage to deliver additional cost-efficiencies.
Learn more about air-to-water heat pumps.
[image left: An air-to-water heat pump, funded, owned and operated by BHESCo at a spa and yoga studio in Lewes].
Benefits of modern, low-carbon heating and cooling systems
Modern heat pumps offer leisure centres and gyms a highly efficient alternative to traditional gas boilers and conventional air conditioning systems. Rather than generating heat through combustion, heat pumps transfer heat from the outside air, allowing them to deliver three to five units of heating or cooling for every unit of electricity consumed. This can significantly reduce energy costs and carbon emissions while improving comfort for building users.
Unlike traditional systems, air-to-air heat pumps can provide both heating in winter and cooling in summer from a single piece of equipment, helping maintain comfortable temperatures in gyms, studios and reception areas year-round. Heat pumps also eliminate on-site fossil fuel combustion, improving local air quality and supporting net zero targets.
Because the UK Government has a target to install heat pumps as part of a nationwide drive to decarbonise heating, there are several government grant schemes to help you pay for the upfront cost of installing a heat pump, the most famous example being the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
When combined with rooftop solar PV, leisure centres can power a significant proportion of their heating and cooling demand with locally generated renewable electricity, further reducing operating costs and exposure to volatile energy prices.
It is also important to deliver different heat loads to separate areas of the building depending on their use. For example, cafe and reception areas will require a different temperature compared to a sports hall or changing rooms. Does your heating system employ modern technologies like individual heat zone controls, smart thermostats and data-driven heat demand management?
If this seems a bit overwhelming, then talk to a member of our team, and we can take the hassle and stress out of your renovation.
Highly efficient
Can provide heating & cooling
Eligible for grants
Why an energy audit is an essential first step for upgrading your sports facility
Before investing in solar panels, heat pumps, LED lighting or other low-carbon technologies, it is essential to understand how your building uses energy today and where the greatest opportunities for improvement lie. Every leisure centre, gym and sports facility is different. Factors such as building age, operating hours, occupancy patterns, heating systems, ventilation requirements and roof suitability can all have a significant impact on the performance and financial viability of energy-saving measures.
Make informed investment decisions
A professional energy audit provides the evidence you need to make informed investment decisions. Through a detailed assessment of your building’s energy consumption and operational requirements, an energy audit identifies where energy is being wasted, highlights opportunities for cost savings, and establishes a baseline against which future improvements can be measured. For facilities with swimming pools, sports halls, fitness suites or changing rooms, this can reveal substantial opportunities to reduce energy demand while maintaining or improving comfort for staff and visitors.
Decide which technologies are best for your site
Building surveys and feasibility studies then help determine which technologies are most appropriate for your site. For example, a solar feasibility study will assess roof condition, orientation, shading and electricity consumption patterns to estimate potential energy generation and financial savings. Similarly, a heating and cooling assessment can evaluate whether heat pumps are suitable, identify any upgrades required to existing systems, and estimate future operating costs and carbon reductions.
Avoid costly mistakes
Taking a strategic approach helps organisations avoid costly mistakes. Installing technologies in the wrong order can limit their effectiveness and increase overall project costs. In many cases, improving energy efficiency first through measures such as LED lighting, building controls or insulation can reduce energy demand, allowing smaller and more cost-effective renewable energy systems to be installed later.
Clear next steps
For leisure operators and local authorities working towards net zero targets, a decarbonisation roadmap provides a clear plan for action. This roadmap sets out a phased programme of improvements, prioritising projects based on their cost, carbon impact, operational benefits and available funding opportunities. It enables organisations to align investment decisions with long-term asset management plans, budget cycles and sustainability objectives.
Bringing it all together
A BHESCo Energy Report brings everything together, combining the observational data of an energy audit with the technical analysis of a feasibility study and long-term thinking of a decarbonisation strategy.
When equipped with the insights and data provided in a BHESCo Energy Report, sports facility managers can invest with confidence, maximise returns, reduce carbon emissions and create more resilient, future-ready buildings that are fit for the needs of their communities for decades to come.
Case Studies
The Unity Centre,
Lewes
Year: 2019
Technology Installed:
22kW air source heat pump, LED lighting, 7 x smart thermostats, 7 x extractor fans, heat zone controls
Lifetime Financial Saving: £25,525
Lifetime CO2 Saving: 336 tonnes
Horsham Bowls Club,
Horsham
Year: 2018
Technology Installed:
762 LED lamps
2 x high efficiency boilers
Lifetime Financial Saving: £517,695
Lifetime CO2 Saving: 386 tonnes
Marina Dance Studio,
Brighton
Year: 2019
Technology Installed:
57 LED lamps
2 x aluminium panel heaters
Lifetime Financial Saving: £15,485
Lifetime CO2 Saving: 11 tonnes
Further options for reducing energy costs in your leisure centre
Alongside the high levels of energy consumption experienced by fitness centres comes an abundance of opportunities for potential improvement.
The best solution to reducing energy demands and associated costs will differ from facility to facility, but with most sports and leisure centres we can identify the following common areas where simple upgrades can deliver significant impact:
Energy management technology
We are big believers in the idea that ‘what’s measured can be managed’.
Integrating remote monitoring and controls will enable facilities managers to continually gather and analyse data about a building’s energy use, adjusting heat and lighting settings in reaction to the information available, and creating a business case for the adoption of new measures where necessary.
Collecting accurate data on electricity consumption patterns can enable facilities managers to identify periods of peak and low use, and to use these conclusions to set programmable power-timers to switch fitness machines on or off at pre-determined intervals.
Designing an energy efficient lighting system
Lighting accounts for 20% of the total energy costs of sports facilities and gyms.
Replacing an existing lighting system with modern LED equivalents will deliver an instant reduction in electricity costs. LEDs provide 90% greater efficiency compared to flourescent tube lighting, and have a considerably longer lifespan, saving time and hassle on maintenance in the long-term.
LED lighting also offers a faster start-up and less glare, and can be easily connected to dimming controls and motion sensor timers.
In some parts of the building, such as hallways or changing booths there is no need for lights to be left on continually. Adding motion sensors to turn lights on automatically whenever an employee is in the vicinity will cut down on waste and can achieve savings of up to 30%.
Funding Your Energy Saving Measures
At BHESCo we understand that the upfront cost of installing energy saving measures for your business or organisation can be expensive.
That’s why we make our innovative ‘Pay As You Save’ financing available to all of our customers.
We cover the upfront project cost on your behalf which is then paid back over time using a portion of the savings achieved on your monthly energy bills. Once our loan is repaid you become the owner of your energy saving measures and will enjoy 100% of the savings for the lifetime of the equipment.
Demonstrating climate leadership
By taking action on energy performance, you are reducing the climate impact of your business, demonstrating social and environmental leadership. Positive action on reducing carbon emissions is increasingly appealing to investors, customers and employees and can attract funds, revenue and staff to your business.
Tackling climate change is a seen as a top priority by more people than at any other time in history, especially in Brighton and Hove. In response to the climate emergency, customers expect the businesses they patronise to be actively engaged in taking measures to minimise the environmental impact of their operations.
Younger generations in particular have demonstrated a willingness to support businesses who have shown transparency and ambition as regards a carbon emissions reduction strategy, even when that means paying a little extra.
The importance of buy-in from staff
In order to gain maximum benefit from any physical energy efficiency improvements that are made to your sports centre, it’s vital that you have the support and co-operation of your staff and fitness instructors.
Educating staff on effective energy management and efficient behaviours will help to embed sustainability practice into your business. When staff have a good understanding of the financial and environmental benefits of the improvements, they will be better placed and more emotionally invested in supporting efforts to reduce energy consumption.
As well as reducing costs, encouraging staff to reduce energy consumption within yuor leisure centre demonstrates environmental responsibility and shows leadership within the wider community.
Frequently Asked Questions
We make our Energy Saving Service available to everyone in the community whether they are a member of BHESCo or not.
Many BHESCo customers go on to become members but this is not a prerequisite.
We make our Pay As You Save financing available so that every property in Sussex can make the transition to clean renewable energy without the burden of providing the upfront project costs.
If your organisation or business is able to and would prefer to finance your energy saving/ renewable energy technologies upfront then that is absolutely fine.
Your Energy Saving Report includes details of all the ways you are wasting heat and energy in addition to our suggestions of how to address any issues with the most cost-effective solutions available.
Our suggested energy efficiency/ energy generation measures include details of typical upfront costs and anticipated payback time, as well as the expected financial and carbon reducing benefits.
It is preferable that our energy surveyors are able to view each room of the property including loft space, so some clearance may be required if necessary.
It is also beneficial to have access to any meters, boilers, or hot water controls.
A copy of your most recent gas and electric bill is essential for helping us to understand your energy use and current costs.
Introduce low-carbon heating to your sports centre
Running a succesful sports centre or gym requires managing an extensive array of energy intensive facilities ranging from electrical fitness equipment to a swimming pool or jacuzzi. This is in addition to day to day lighting, heating and ventilation demands of the property.
Consequently, the energy consumption of sports and leisure centres is considerable. In the UK the annual financial cost of energy associated with sports and recreational centres is £938 million.
Research carried out by the University of Cardiff found that energy costs in the sector are second only to labour costs, and can account for as much as 30% of the total operational costs of the facility1.
Installing carefully selected energy saving or energy generating technologies will deliver instant advantages to your facility, for example:
- An energy efficient building is more comfortable for your employees and members, driving up productivity and enhancing your reputation.
- Money saved on energy can be used in areas that improve employee loyalty such as training and benefits or to boost revenue through marketing campaigns and product development.
- If you own your premises and are able to generate your own renewable energy (from solar panels for example) you’ll make significant savings compared to buying from a supplier and will increase the value of your property. You may also open up new revenue streams by selling excess electricity to energy suppliers, via peer to peer trading or through electric vehicle charging.
- A careful considered energy policy focused on reducing the environmental impact of your business will also prepare you for the UK’s transition to a carbon neutral future and signal to your staff and customers that your organisation is committed to advancing social impacts beyond your core services.
Project Contact Form
If you are interested in taking action to reduce the energy costs and environmental impact of your sports centre of leisure facility in Sussex then leave your contact details below and our Projects Team will get back to you within the next few working days.
References
1 – ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN LEISURE CENTRES – A COMPARATIVE STUDY – https://www.jstor.org/stable/44396899?seq=1