A couple’s dream for an eco-friendly leisure business with innovation at its core has become a reality.
Swimming teachers Nicola and Tom Mitchell created an energy-efficient swimming pool using modern technologies to ensure a comfortable environment for its users, as well as keeping costs low.
The directors of Making Waves, Scotland’s largest independent swimming school, in East Kilbride, had regularly travelled around 13 different pools offering lessons to babies, children and adults before deciding to build their own facility.
They wanted it to be as energy efficient as possible to help keep their bills low, but they were also keen to make it environmentally friendly, as well as providing a warm and safe space for learning.
Tom had done a lot of research, taking advice from a marine biologist to discover innovative ideas for their planned project, before they approached our team to help them join the dots and bring their ideas to life.
The couple received a free and impartial assessment to help them identify the optimum energy saving opportunities for the space leased within an existing leisure complex.
The recommendations in the report sent to the couple included installing:
- an air dehumidification and ventilation system, incorporating heat pump heat recovery;
- LED lighting;
- a filtration system incorporating Advanced Medium Filter (AFM) and variable speed drive; and
- water efficient appliances.
Although there were no previous figures to run a comparison with as this was a new pool, using average numbers for a similar traditional facility, it was calculated that the couple could save more than £30,000 a year with a £110,000 capital outlay, giving them a payback of three and a half years.
Incredibly, the technologies they introduced are estimated to cut carbon emissions by 110 tonnes a year – the equivalent of driving an average car 272,953 miles, a journey that would take you to the moon and beyond.
With the support of a Scottish Government SME Loan, Nicola and Tom went ahead with the recommendations and are delighted with the results.
The technologies they have introduced not only lower their bills when compared with a traditional pool, but by installing the Dryden Aqua Daisy filtration system, there is less chlorine, making the pool a more pleasant place to be.
The pool now teaches around 1,200 children a week and the business employs 30 staff, including three of the couple’s five children part-time. Nicola said:
“The whole experience was great. “We always wanted to do things as well as we could. We were driven by saving money and also the impact the business would have on the environment.
“My husband did a lot of research initially, he was very determined. But we couldn’t have gone ahead without the loan. We have been able to create a fantastic facility and we have been overwhelmed by what our customers have said about it.
“The heat is amazing – it is never cold.”
The ambitious couple are so pleased with the results of their first venture that they are now considering opening a similar swimming school elsewhere in Scotland.
Help for your business
Business Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free, impartial support and access to funding to help small and medium-sized enterprises save energy, carbon and money
Whether you are just starting out on your energy-saving journey and need some pointers or are looking for expertise and funding to support your current plans, our team of experienced business advisors and energy-saving consultants are here to help. Get in touch today.
Get the case study sent straight to your inbox
If you liked this case study, make sure you sign up to our regular ezine, The Bottom Line. It’s an easy way to keep up to date with all the latest updates including grants and funding, free training, case studies, the latest blogs and other useful resources that can help your organisation improve its environmental performance, save resources and save money.