Saving energy has become a important issue in our modern society, and even more so in the current energy crisis. This is particularly true of public spaces, public swimming pools and aquatic centres, which can be very energy-intensive, resulting in high costs for local authorities and public services. Energy is the second biggest item of expenditure in the management of municipal swimming pools... In fact, they consume a lot of electricity (water heating and pool lighting) and water.
By ensuring that your pool is energy-efficient, you can reduce your energy costs while helping to protect the environment. Here are 6 tips for saving energy easily and effectively in your public pool!
Calculate and monitor your energy consumption (and cost!)
The first step in reducing energy consumption in your pool is to monitor your water, heating and electricity consumption on a daily basis. Keeping track of your energy consumption every day can cut it by 23%! With a precise understanding of your energy expenditure, you'll be able to put in place an effective action plan aimed at prioritising the reduction of energy from the most energy-hungry sources.
Heating your pool with renewable energy
For a swimming pool to be enjoyable for its users, it has to be heated! Unfortunately, heating the water in your pools is one of the biggest sources of expenditure, and can easily double or even triple if you use an energy-hungry or faulty system. Most public swimming pools in France are heated with gas, which consumes a huge amount of energy and is currently very expensive... Raising the temperature of your pool water by 1°C with a gas or oil heat pump increases its energy consumption by 10 to 30%.
So we advise you to turn to more renewable energy sources to heat your pool! There are a number of effective solutions, including :
The heat pump uses the heat calories in the air to heat the pool water, reducing energy consumption by using a natural and sustainable energy source. It does, however, use electricity, but its consumption is minimal!
Solar energy can take a variety of forms (panels, domes, etc.) and will absorb the heat of the sun's rays to heat the water in the pools. This is 100% renewable energy and will have no harmful impact on the environment! However, it is dependent on weather conditions, so heat cannot be guaranteed all the time...
Biomass uses organic matter (wood, plants, agricultural waste, household waste or biogas) to produce heat. Biomass is one of the most efficient and environmentally-friendly solutions for heating public swimming pools. Biomass is one of the most efficient and environmentally-friendly solutions for heating public swimming pools, and is the one that best reduces fossil gas consumption, since it works in both summer and winter. The Eysines aquatic centre is well aware of this, since biomass provides 92% of its heating needs.
Equip yourself with a solution for measuring footfall an
A flow management solution such as Affluences, which measures the number of swimmers in real time, can also help you save energy! By installing sensors based on artificial intelligence in your pools, you'll be able to count the number of swimmers in each pool and even in each lane more accurately, rather than making do with a rough estimate of attendance based on entries.
We don't need to remind you that regulations require 30 litres of water to be renewed per bather every day: a solution that measures the number of people using the pool enables you to optimise water renewal! Take the example of the Satrouville swimming pool, which uses Affluences to gain a better understanding of how its facilities are used and also to optimise its operating costs by making more accurate forecasts of water renewal in the various pools:
​ | Without Affluences | With Affluences |
Annual footfall | 160,000 swimmers estimated | 144,000 swimmers counted (i.e. 10% less than the estimate) |
Renewable water | ​4 800 m3 | ​4 320 m3 |
Energy cost | ​43 200 € | ​38 880 € |
Thanks to the Affluences solution, which accurately measures the number of people using the pool each year via its metering systems, the pool managers are saving €4,320 a year, or €13,000 over three years! They are now in a better position to control the water and air renewal rates in line with actual attendance levels.
Using a pool cover
A swimming pool's water consumption accounts for just over 10% of its total energy bill. This high consumption is due to the natural phenomenon of water evaporation. The water level in swimming pools falls as a result of evaporation, so they need to be constantly replenished.
But there's a simple solution that reduces evaporation while keeping the water warm: a pool cover. This way, you won't have to adjust the water level as often. Whether you opt for a bubble cover or a roller shutter, choose the material best suited to your pool and your budget! What's more, it also prevents debris and dirt from entering the water, reducing the need for filtration.
If you want to take your pool water management even further, we recommend using a rainwater collector! Although expensive to buy, it can quickly pay for itself, depending on the rainfall in your region.
Don't overlook filtration
Contrary to what you might think, under-filtering your pool is a bad idea when it comes to saving money! In fact, this method saves money in the short term, but the energy and ecological cost will be considerable in the long term, as the filtration pump will have to work harder than if filtration were carried out regularly. With continuous filtration, you reduce your pump's energy consumption while keeping your pool water clean.
There's also a tendency to think that it's better to filter at night because the price per kWH of electricity is lower, but no!
We recommend that you filter during the day for a number of reasons:
Photosynthesis, which causes algae to form, takes place in sunlight;
Bacteria grow better in well tempered water, so during the day.
Finally, don't forget to clean your filter regularly, because if it's clogged up, it will consume far too much electricity and degrade the quality of the water in your pools!
Switching to LED lighting
One of the simplest ways to reduce your energy costs is to use LED technology to light your ponds. LED bulbs consume much less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer!
By adopting these eco-responsible practices, managers of public swimming pools or aquatic centres can considerably reduce their energy costs while helping to protect the environment!