photo: S&P
Exeter Council in the UK has led the way in energy saving with its investment in St Sidwell’s Point – built to Passivhaus standards, and the most energy efficient leisure centre in the UK – which is predicted to use up to 70 per cent less power and 50 per cent less water than a ‘standard’ leisure centre.
Passivhaus standards also require the presence of highly efficient heat recovery, high levels of insulation to the thermal envelope with exceptional levels of airtightness, high performance windows with insulated frames, thermal bridge-free construction and the use of mechanical ventilation.
The centre features energy-saving innovations, such as the water source heat pump used to recycle the waste heat from the backwash water to top up the water heating.
Once the heat is recovered, backwash water is also recycled to flush the building toilets, contributing to water savings.
A 40Wh/m3 energy target for the filtration system has been delivered through use of micro-filtration and considered pipe runs and sizes. In addition, all the pipework has been installed within the thermal envelope of the building to eliminate unnecessary heat loss.
This system of microfiltration has contributed to further energy savings, when compared to traditional sand filtration systems, because it requires less backwashing contributing to the water saving.
Increased thermal performance of the building envelope and elimination of cold bridges also enable an increase in pool hall humidity, reducing evaporative energy loss and replacement water heating costs, while also enabling reduced air change rates, as less dry air is required. Evaporation is reduced further by the overnight drain-down facility that has been installed under the pools.
Free energy generated by participants in the studios and gym is captured through polyvalent air source heat pumps and used to pre-heat water to the pool and showers. This is supplemented by heat recovered from backwash and discharge water. All these features ensure the building runs efficiently, with minimum energy loss or reliance on non-renewable sources.
The building was created with the vision of being 2080 Climate Resilient, which ensures it can adapt to increasingly frequent weather extremes in the UK.
Built in line with standards defined by the Institute of Building Biology, the leisure centre provides a healthy hub for all users. Microfiltration technology in the swimming pools, for example, means that the water is of drinking quality.
Free energy generated by participants in the gym is captured through air source heat pumps and used to pre-heat water to the pool