Popular community leisure centre benefits from reduced energy bills

Reduced electricity and gas consumption at Gracemount Leisure Centre in Edinburgh thanks to government-funded works.

A community in the south of Scotland’s capital city is feeling the benefits of reduced energy bills thanks to energy efficiency works funded by a government scheme.

The Gracemount Leisure Centre serves the communities in Liberton, Burdiehouse, Alwnickhill, Moredun and Straiton. The centre prides itself on being a hallmark to the community, with facilities and coaching programmes available for all ages and activity levels, from toddlers to seniors.

Following project completion in late 2022, Edinburgh Leisure, the charity who run the centre, is now seeing the positive impact that the green works are having for those who use their facilities. Alongside savings to their energy bills, the works have also made the centre a more generally comfortable space to be in.

Energy and sustainability officer at Edinburgh Leisure Megan Ballantyne said: “It’s made a huge difference to the pool temperature and the atmosphere temperature – it makes it a much more enjoyable environment for everyone to be in.”

Edinburgh Leisure runs dozens of sites across the city on behalf of Edinburgh City Council, inclusive of 17 gyms, 12 pools, one climbing arena, six golf courses, 141 sports pitches and more.

To support the council’s target for Edinburgh to become a net zero city by 2030, the charity has documented their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint and supporting a clean, green and sustainable environment for everyone. 

A key element within their approach is to ensure that the buildings that make up their estate are as energy efficient as possible. For them, this means investing in technologies that support the transition to a low-carbon future.

To support their aims, Edinburgh Leisure have set up a funding pot through the Salix-delivered scheme - The Scotland Recycling Fund – which they have been actively using to fund works across their estate for four years.

The Scotland Recycling Fund is a loan-based, ring-fenced fund, created with capital provided through the Scottish Government through Salix, and matched by the public sector organisation. It encourages participants to re-invest financial savings that result from projects into further decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects, thus operating in a cyclic manner.

Gracemount Leisure Centre was first identified as a in need of modernising when staff recognised that the existing air handling unit, which was over two decades old, was the most energy intensive single piece of technology within their estate. 

Air handling units supply fresh air to a room, taking air from outside, and filtering then reconditioning it through a heating or cooling coil, to then provide warmed or cooled air into a space, therefore playing an essential role in room temperature regulation. 

The charity tapped into their Recycling Fund to use £157,000 in funding to replace the dated unit with a new, top-of-the-line unit, which was commissioned in September 2022.The project at Gracemount is projected to save 80.45 tonnes of carbon dioxide and over £26,000 in energy bills for the charity annually. 

The team at Edinburgh Leisure have been closely monitoring the results and data through monthly monitoring of electricity use and costs, and are delighted to have made financial savings. Given the not-for-profit nature of the organisation, the  savings can enable investment into other, community-focused agendas that the charity may otherwise be unable to afford. 

Megan added: “It helps sites that help disadvantaged people to have much better facilities and allows people who maybe can’t get active, get active, and gives them a facility at a cost they can afford.”

Looking ahead, the team at Edinburgh Leisure are planning more ambitious green projects at centres and buildings across the charity’s estate, many of which will utilise funding available through their Recycling Fund to provide the capital needed to get the projects off the ground.

Edinburgh Leisure energy and sustainability manager Parul Baghel said: “We have a few things already in the pipeline. They will serve a better for purpose for us in the longer run as well.

“For example, we are hoping to upgrade some of our lights to LEDs, which would require low-maintenance to no-maintenance, and also have energy consumption savings.”

As works continue, the team take challenges, opportunities and lessons learned from previous projects and apply them to current and future works with a forward look. 

Salix programme coordinator Chris Cain said: “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with our contacts at Edinburgh Leisure as their journey to decarbonise their estate continues.

“The passion that they have for their work and their facilities truly underpins their drive toward a low-emission future that means the facilities will continue to be there and provide much-needed services to the community for generations to come.”