Running a leisure business can involve substantial energy use. Gyms, swimming pools, sports centres, spas, health clubs and other recreational facilities often need heating, lighting, ventilation, hot water and specialist equipment for long periods every day.
For businesses with swimming pools, the challenge can be even greater because water and pool halls need controlled temperatures while pumps, filtration and ventilation systems may operate for extended periods. This makes energy one of the operating costs that managers need to monitor carefully.
The good news is that reducing energy bills does not necessarily mean reducing services or making customers uncomfortable. Better controls, maintenance, staff practices, equipment upgrades and purchasing decisions can all contribute to lower consumption.
Why Do Leisure Businesses Use So Much Energy?
Unlike a typical office, many leisure facilities have several energy-intensive systems operating simultaneously. A gym may need lighting, air conditioning, ventilation, showers and exercise equipment, while a swimming centre also needs pool heating, water circulation and filtration.
Swimming pools are particularly energy intensive because they must maintain appropriate water and air conditions. Oxford City Council, for example, says swimming pools are among its most energy-intensive facilities because they need to be kept at a constant temperature.
The first step towards controlling these costs is therefore understanding exactly where energy is being consumed.
How Can Businesses Identify Energy Waste?
An energy review does not always need to begin with an expensive building upgrade. Managers can start by examining electricity and gas bills, meter readings and operating schedules.
Compare consumption across weeks and months rather than looking only at the amount charged. A sudden increase in electricity use could indicate that equipment is operating unnecessarily, while unusually high gas consumption may point towards heating controls, insulation or maintenance issues.
Smart meters and building management systems can make this process easier. Larger facilities may also benefit from analysing consumption by individual areas such as the pool, gym, caf, changing rooms and offices.
The Carbon Trust recommends using bills and meter readings to investigate consumption and conducting regular energy walk-rounds to identify waste.
Could Better Heating Controls Reduce Costs?
Heating is an obvious area to investigate because different parts of a leisure facility have different requirements.
A busy fitness studio, reception area and changing room do not necessarily need identical temperatures. Using one setting throughout an entire building can result in some areas being unnecessarily heated.
Timers and programmable controls can ensure heating matches actual opening hours. Managers should also check that heating and cooling systems are not operating against each other.
Doors and windows should be inspected for draughts, while roofs, walls and pipework may benefit from improved insulation. Preventing heat from escaping can reduce the amount of energy required to maintain comfortable conditions.
Regular boiler and HVAC maintenance is equally important. Dirty filters, poorly maintained equipment and incorrect settings can make systems work harder than necessary.
Review Your Business Energy Contract
Reducing consumption is only one side of controlling energy expenditure. Leisure operators should also understand how their commercial energy contracts work.
Do not focus exclusively on the advertised unit rate. Standing charges, contract duration, payment arrangements and other costs can influence the final amount a business pays.
Before an existing agreement expires, operators can review available electricity and gas deals and compare them against the facility’s actual consumption pattern.
Ofgem advises businesses to understand how commercial energy contracts work and what to check when choosing a tariff, supplier or energy broker. Managers should therefore read contract conditions carefully rather than automatically renewing with an existing provider.
How Can Swimming Pools Reduce Energy Consumption?
Pools deserve particular attention because they combine water heating, air heating, pumps, ventilation and filtration.
Use Pool Covers When Facilities Are Closed
A significant amount of pool heat can be lost through evaporation. Covering the water when a pool is not being used can reduce this loss and help retain heat.
Covers can also reduce the load placed on ventilation and humidity-control equipment during closed periods. Spas and smaller heated pools can benefit from similar measures.
Review Pumps and Filtration Systems
Older pumps may consume considerably more electricity than modern, properly controlled alternatives. Variable-speed drives can allow some systems to operate according to actual demand rather than continuously at maximum output.
Filtration and backwash schedules should also be reviewed so equipment is not running unnecessarily.
Manage Ventilation Carefully
Pool ventilation is essential for maintaining air quality and controlling humidity, so it should not simply be switched off without assessing the building’s requirements.
However, properly designed controls can adjust ventilation according to occupancy and humidity. This can reduce waste while maintaining suitable conditions for visitors and protecting the building fabric.
Switch to More Efficient Lighting
Lighting is one of the simpler areas where many leisure businesses can make improvements.
Replacing older lamps with LED lighting can lower electricity consumption and reduce maintenance requirements because LEDs generally have longer operating lives.
Occupancy sensors can also be useful in areas that are not continuously used. Staff rooms, storage areas, toilets, corridors and some changing facilities do not necessarily need full lighting throughout every opening hour.
Daylight sensors can provide another option where buildings receive substantial natural light.
Stop Equipment Using Electricity When Nobody Needs It
Leisure businesses often contain equipment that remains powered even during quiet periods.
Televisions, vending machines, office computers, displays and some fitness equipment can continue consuming electricity when they are not actively being used.
Managers should identify which equipment can safely be switched off overnight or during periods of low demand. Timers and smart plugs can automate the process where appropriate.
Staff should also be given responsibility for end-of-day checks rather than assuming somebody else will switch equipment off.
Should Leisure Businesses Invest in Renewable Energy?
After reducing unnecessary consumption, businesses can consider whether on-site generation or low-carbon heating could provide longer-term benefits.
Solar photovoltaic panels can be particularly relevant to leisure buildings with large roof areas and substantial daytime electricity demand. Electricity generated on site can reduce the amount that needs to be purchased from the grid.
Heat pumps may also be appropriate for certain facilities, particularly as part of a wider heating-system upgrade. Oxford City Council has installed heat pumps and other energy measures across leisure facilities as part of its decarbonisation programme.
However, major upgrades require careful assessment. Installation cost, building condition, existing equipment, expected savings, financing and payback periods should all be considered before committing to a project.
What Energy-Saving Measures Should Come First?
Not every business needs to begin with expensive technology. A staged approach can help managers prioritise measures according to cost, complexity and potential impact.
| Measure | Typical Investment | Main Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Review energy bills and meter data | Low | Identifies unusual consumption |
| Adjust heating schedules | Low | Reduces unnecessary heating |
| Staff switch-off procedures | Low | Cuts avoidable electricity use |
| LED lighting | Low to medium | Reduces lighting consumption |
| Occupancy sensors | Low to medium | Prevents unnecessary lighting |
| Pool covers | Medium | Reduces heat and evaporation losses |
| Building insulation | Medium to high | Limits heat loss |
| Efficient pumps and controls | Medium to high | Reduces equipment consumption |
| Solar panels | High | Generates electricity on site |
| Heat pumps | High | Can reduce reliance on fossil-fuel heating |
The right order will depend on the facility. A small independent gym will have very different priorities from a large leisure centre containing multiple pools, saunas and sports halls.
Get Employees Involved in Energy Saving
Technology cannot solve every efficiency problem. Staff behaviour can have a noticeable effect on daily energy consumption.
Employees should understand which lights and equipment can be switched off, how heating and ventilation controls should be used and who should report unusual energy consumption.
Simple responsibilities can be incorporated into opening and closing routines. For example, the final member of staff leaving an area could check lighting, screens and non-essential equipment.
Managers can also share energy performance with employees so that efficiency becomes part of everyday operations rather than an occasional management project.
Monitor Results Instead of Making One-Off Changes
Energy efficiency should be treated as an ongoing process.
Record consumption before making an improvement and compare it with consumption afterwards. Where possible, comparisons should account for factors such as weather, opening hours, visitor numbers and changes in services.
This helps managers determine whether an investment is delivering the expected savings.
Businesses should also review their energy contracts before renewal dates and periodically reassess equipment settings. A building that was efficiently configured several years ago may no longer be operating efficiently after changes to opening hours, customer numbers or equipment.
Final Thoughts
Rising energy costs can place significant pressure on leisure businesses because many facilities depend on heating, hot water, ventilation, lighting and electrical equipment throughout long operating hours.
The most practical response is to combine energy management with sensible investment. Monitoring consumption, improving heating controls, switching equipment off, installing efficient lighting, reducing pool heat loss and reviewing commercial energy arrangements can all contribute to better cost control.
Larger projects such as insulation, solar panels, efficient pumps and heat pumps can then be considered where the expected savings justify the investment.
Rather than treating energy as a fixed overhead, leisure businesses can manage it as a controllable operating cost. Regular monitoring and gradual improvements can help protect margins without compromising the quality of the facilities customers expect.
