LIDO DIPS IN WITH DIMPLEX RENEWABLES

Swimmers at Chipping Norton’s award winning outdoor Lido have been enjoying the great outdoors and dipping into a pool that’s heated by Dimplex low carbon heat pumps, following a £140,000 grant-aided refurbishment. 

The popular community facility in the heart of the Cotswolds was rescued from the threat of closure by a campaigning group in 2003. It’s now operated as a charity, with high profile supporters including journalist and TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson and has Prime Minister David Cameron as its patron.

Energy use has always been a major cost at the Lido and the trustees have now completed a major two-year programme of works to help reduce consumption and improve energy efficiency. The refurbishment involved stripping out the plant room to install a Dimplex ground source heat pump system, a UV water treatment system as well as 60 solar photovoltaic (pv) panels on the roof to help provide power as well as an income out of season. 

The 45kW Dimplex ground source heat pump was installed by Dimplex partner Ecovision and it draws heat from nine 120-plus metre deep boreholes drilled in the car park. The additional electricity demand of the heat pump is offset by the solar pv panels on the changing room roof which are capable of generating up to 10kW of electricity. The energy generated can also be fed back into the national grid, providing extra income for the Lido thanks to the Feed-In tariffs.

Energy consumption will be monitored and evaluated closely following a first full season of operation and early indications are very positive, says trustee Clare Jarvis. 

“We haven’t calculated the actual savings yet but the Dimplex heat pump system is certainly working well and we know our energy costs are significantly reduced. The heat pump has kept the pool warm and that keeps our swimmers very happy, helping us to extend our role into the recreational and sporting life of the community.”

Chipping Norton Lido is also receiving national acclaim as a successful example of a pool being taken back into community control. It was featured in a case study in a new report commissioned by the Amateur Swimming Association and the trustees have given support and advice to community groups in other parts of the UK where pools are under threat of closure. The social initiatives include free swimming for the over 60s, an annual fun run, Dip n Chill evenings for young people and hosting community arts events. 

Grants for the £140,000 refurbishment were secured from sources including the Community Sustainable Energy Programme, the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2, the EDF Green Energy Fund and the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment.

Dimplex Tel: 0845 601 5111 Fax: 01489 773061

email: marketing@dimplex.co.uk or www.dimplex.co.uk