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Energy saving improvements have already dramatically reduced gas usage at the centres.
Energy saving investments
Loughton Leisure Centre, Ongar Leisure Centre and Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre have lowered its carbon footprint with new energy saving investments made by Epping Forest District Council.
Places Leisure and the Council have looked to identify ways to reduce energy consumption at the leisure facilities to reduce carbon emissions and operating costs, and the Council has invested in the following improvements:
- Pool covers at Ongar Leisure Centre and Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre
- LED lighting conversions at Loughton Leisure and Ongar Leisure Centre
- Variable speed drives at Loughton Leisure Centre
- New Building Management System at Loughton Leisure Centre.
The improvements already have and will continue to significantly reduce the centres’ operating costs and make better the environment. Since their installation in May this year, the improvements have already reduced gas usage by almost 25%.
Customers are pleased to see that more investment has been spent in the facilities. Positive feedback has also been given on the pool covers, in which customers have noticed more warmth in the temperature of the pool since the pool covers were introduced.
Reducing energy consumption
The General Manager at Ongar Leisure Centre, Jackie Pearce, commented on the new installations:
I am pleased that we now have a major resource to aid our challenge to reduce energy consumption at the Epping Forest leisure centres. This comes at a time when prices have risen dramatically, and businesses are finding it hard to sustain their place in the industry. We have already recorded in the month of June a 37% reduction in our gas usage at Ongar Leisure Centre, which these improvements are definitely a contributing factor, along with the good weather we have had.
We have full confidence in the measures we are taking to aid both business growth and lowering our carbon footprint. The fact that our customers have noticed and felt the benefits from this is the absolute icing on the cake, and it further cements that the investment has made a positive difference.
Improving the local environment
Councillor Raymond Balcombe, Portfolio Holder for Contracts, Service Delivery and Improvement, said:
Our leisure centres continue to prove popular, and remains a huge asset for the district and residents of Epping Forest.
Not only do the leisure centres help people keep fit, but it’s also great to see that it’s now doing its bit to improve the local environment. These investments are a clever way of keeping district green and saving money during these difficult times.
Decarbonising our leisure centres is an important step to achieving the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan, in support of the Council’s declaration to become carbon neutral by 2030, and also support improved health and wellbeing for our communities.
In an attempt to consider new eco-friendly technologies across our centres, the improvements quickly demonstrated the success of energy saving improvements that have been adopted at our leisure centres.
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