Welcome to Ennovus Solutions
Welcome to Ennovus Solutions
For businesses in the sports and leisure industry, there are lots of factors affecting energy usage, from long opening hours to energy-intensive equipment and machinery. In fact, according to the Carbon Trust, energy costs can account for as much as 30% of total running costs in leisure centres, second only to labour costs.
This means that even small inefficiencies in energy use can have a significant impact on budgets and long-term sustainability, especially with rising energy prices and increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions.
In this guide we take you through the average energy consumption of a leisure centre, the top energy-consuming areas, what you can do to tackle energy waste and overuse and make progress towards your sustainability goals.
Leisure centres are some of the most energy-intensive public buildings. With a wide range of facilities, long opening hours and high occupancy levels, it is common for leisure centre energy consumption to be high.
The main energy-consuming factors in leisure centres typically include:
Hot water demand is also high due to use of showers, sinks and pool facilities, making heating and hot water one of the biggest contributors to overall energy use.
Filtration, circulation pumps and water treatment systems often run continuously, even during out-of-hours periods, to meet health and safety standards.
Without efficient controls or modern systems, ventilation and air conditioning can account for a substantial portion of energy consumption, pushing bills higher.
Additionally, older or poorly maintained equipment is often less energy-efficient, increasing overall electricity demand.
Long opening times mean lighting, heating, ventilation and equipment are running for the majority of the day, even during off-peak hours when footfall drops.
Leisure centre energy consumption levels vary depending on a number of factors, such as facilities, building size and age, opening hours and existing efficiency measures. However, it is estimated that the average consumption for leisure centres with swimming pools is around 1,500 – 2,500 kWh per m2 per year, and 300 – 500 kWh per m2 per year for dry-side only facilities. This disparity is largely due to pools requiring constant heating (typically 28–30°C water temperature), as well as energy-intensive water cycling and cleaning systems.
There are over 2,700 public leisure centres across England, with 1,603 publicly owned pool facilities, with the emissions these facilities produce accounting for around 40% of a council’s overall carbon footprint.
Many of these publicly owned facilities are in older buildings, often built in the 1970s and 1980s, meaning they are no longer up to modern energy efficiency standards. In fact, the District Councils Network estimates that 10-40% of a district councils’ direct carbon emissions are a result of old and energy inefficient leisure facilities.
Understanding leisure centre energy consumption is essential when looking to control costs and improve efficiency.
Lighting alone can account for a substantial proportion of energy costs. In dry leisure centres, lighting can make up to 20% of total energy expenditure, whilst in centres with swimming pools it typically accounts for around 10%. Large open spaces, high ceilings and long operating hours all contribute to increased electricity demand, particularly where older or inefficient lighting systems are in place.
In pool facilities, up to 65% of total energy consumption can be attributed to pool heating and ventilation. Maintaining comfortable water and air temperatures, alongside effective humidity control, requires systems to operate for long periods, often continuously.
Energy costs can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds per year for a single organisation, with energy costs gradually climbing. Energy costs can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds per year for a single organisation, with energy costs gradually climbing. With some facilities seeing operating costs rising by more than 200 per cent, thanks to high energy bills.
These figures highlight why leisure centres, particularly those with pools, face high energy bills and why targeting key areas of energy use can have a significant impact on reducing overall costs.
It’s no secret that many leisure facilities are struggling to stay afloat amidst rising energy costs. Reports suggest that between 2021 and 2024, 77 local authority managed leisure centres across the UK were forced to close, with unmanageable utility costs frequently cited as a contributing factor.
However, according to the Carbon Trust, by making just a 10% improvement in energy management, UK leisure facilities could save up to £70M each year and reduce carbon emissions by hundreds of thousands of tonnes.
There are lots of ways leisure centre energy consumption can be addressed through small changes and smarter energy management strategies.
This is a great starting point to help identify where energy is being wasted and which systems are costing the most to run. They can help you build a clear, data-led strategy for prioritising improvements and reducing your leisure centre energy consumption.
Lighting is a significant energy consumer in leisure centres, so by replacing outdated lighting with LED alternatives, you can significantly reduce electricity use and maintenance costs. LEDs are longer-lasting, more efficient and well suited to large, high-ceilinged leisure spaces.
Poorly maintained boilers, pumps and ventilation systems often use more energy than necessary. Routine servicing helps equipment run efficiently, extends lifetime and prevents costly breakdowns.
Improving insulation, glazing and air ventilation reduces heat loss and lowers heating demand. Even simple upgrades can improve comfort levels while cutting long-term energy costs.
Simple additions to your existing systems, such as lighting sensors and heating timers, can have a significant impact on leisure centre energy consumption, without involving expensive technology. In addition, building management systems such as smart meters and automated controls help ensure heating, lighting and ventilation only operate when needed. These systems reduce unnecessary energy use during off-peak or low-occupancy periods.
Leisure centres have large water demand, primarily from swimming pools, showers, and cleaning operations. By installing low-flow fixtures, dual toilet flush systems and showers on a timer, you can avoid water waste. Additionally, incorporating rainwater recycling for things such as flushing toilets and watering grass pitches during drier months, can further reduce demand for fresh water.
Using pool covers to reduce heat loss and evaporation, ensuring water and air temperatures are kept at optimal levels, and upgrading pumps, filters and heat recovery systems can significantly cut energy use. Even small adjustments to pool operation and plant scheduling can offer savings without compromising comfort or safety.
Different areas of your leisure centre will require different temperatures in order to maintain a comfortable environment. By having zonal heating controls, you can ensure different areas of your building are heated independently based on how and when they are used. Matching temperatures to occupancy levels in spaces such as gyms, studios, offices and sports halls, makes sure energy is not wasted on unused areas or by over-heating areas that require cooler temperatures.
Leisure centres are great candidates for renewable energy infrastructure, in particular solar panels and heat pumps, due to their large roof spaces, high and consistent energy demand, and long operating hours. Solar PV and heat pumps can be used on-site to offset electricity requirements, reducing your reliance on the grid.
Simple behavioural changes, such as switching off equipment or reporting faults promptly, can make a real difference. Training staff to understand energy use and encouraging guests to do their bit helps make energy efficient behaviour a part of everyday operations.
At Ennovus, we work with businesses across the sports and leisure sector to find the best solutions for driving energy efficiency and sustainability.
We offer commercial energy audits to act as a ‘health check’ for your leisure centre and provide a great starting point for improved energy efficiency. One of our expert assessors will examine all areas of energy consumption in your facility and create an action plan you can follow to lower your energy consumption.
Ennovus can also design and install renewable energy infrastructure, from solar panels to wind turbines, so you can find the solution that best meets your needs and energy goals. We also support energy efficiency upgrades, including LED lighting, HVAC optimisation, and smart controls, tailoring solutions to help you get the most out of your energy.
For leisure centres that want to take a holistic, strategic approach to their energy efficiency and overall sustainability, we can create a decarbonisation strategy for your business. We will assess your current leisure centre energy consumption and emissions, and identify opportunities for reduction, through a clear plan of action to guide you on each step of your journey.
We’d love to hear from you. Just get in touch.
Ennovus are a leading Net Zero implementation Consultancy based in the UK. Part of Consultus Group, Ennovus Solutions are specialist engineers and experts in delivering Net Zero Solutions.
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