Energy efficiency measures recently introduced at Burntwood Leisure Centre were highly applauded at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards in March for projects managed and installed by Leisure Energy – on behalf of Lichfield District Council and Freedom Leisure. They were pronounced joint winners of the Large Scale Project at the ceremony with other industry experts in attendance.
The leisure facility in Lichfield was constructed in 2002, and despite some remodelling and previous energy efficiency works having been undertaken in 2018, further measures were needed to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy costs to enable the centre to assist with Lichfield District Council’s net zero ambitions. There was no true renewable technology within the building, lighting levels were poor within some areas and the boilers were coming to the end of their usable lives.
The energy saving measures that have been undertaken include:
- An Air Source Heap Pump a 350kWth ASHP with a 500-litre hot water storage tank.
- An array of 182 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof to provide electricity to the centre
- 182 new LED lighting fittings and low energy lamps were replaced in changing rooms, corridors and rooms improving illumination levels and enabling Intelligent lighting via controls, such as daylight sensing, were used where possible.
- Externally, 22 light fittings were replaced in the car park and the all-weather pitch lights were upgraded from standard metal halide.
Consequently, these measures will lead to a reduction of Burntwood Leisure Centre’s annual carbon emissions by nearly 260 tonnes or 37% (the equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the motors of 137 cars) and gas consumption savings of 55% – significantly lowering energy costs.
Funding of £1,062,575 for the equipment installation was secured via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Councillor Iain Eadie, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet member for Economic Development, Leisure and Local Plan, said: “We are delighted that Burntwood Leisure Centre has been recognised in the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards – It is a great achievement.
“The energy-saving measures, both inside and outside, will reduce the centre’s carbon emissions by more than one third contributing to our net zero targets and we wish to thank Leisure Energy for delivering them to the centre on behalf of Freedom Leisure and the district council.”
Ivan Horsfall Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Leisure said “Minimising environmental impact is a priority for Freedom Leisure right across our organisation and we are very pleased to see the energy efficiency measures at Burntwood Leisure Centre applauded at the recent West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards. The work completed by Leisure Energy in this project has resulted in some excellent environmental outcomes and we will continue to support and work alongside our partner Lichfield District Council to achieve further improvements”.
Neil Bland, Managing Director of Leisure Energy commented that “Leisure Energy are delighted to have won the joint award for the works at Burntwood Leisure Centre and assist the Council in working towards their carbon reduction goals”.
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