PROJECT COMPLETE A WIN FOR COUNCIL, COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT
The learn-to-swim pool before the enclosure was installed. The Des Renford Leisure Centre in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra runs learn-to-swim programs in its outdoor toddler pool. Being outdoors, the pool was only in use during the warmer months, meaning that it sat empty throughout winter. While Randwick City Council was missing out on revenue from patrons; it was also having to pay for the pool to be run and maintained during the winter months - and the pool was far from sustainable. Looking to extend the swimming season and increase revenue while meeting sustainability targets, the council researched potential solutions. A Laguna Grande Telescopic pool enclosure from The Pool Enclosure Company was selected as the best option: the enclosure provides all the benefits of a traditional permanent structure but is far cheaper and faster to install. In total, it took The Pool Enclosure Company just 12 days on-site to build and install the enclosure. Once installed, the enclosure delivered immediate benefits. Enclosing the 15 x 11 m outdoor pool meant that evaporation was heavily reduced, creating a far more water-efficient pool. In a pool this size, solving the problem of evaporation meant that the council was able to meet its obligations of running as sustainable an operation as possible while minimising water consumption. Access and ventilation were important for this project, so The Pool Enclosure Company designed the enclosure with two lateral sliding doors, a double sliding door and four ventilating windows two in each face. An additional four openings were also included to assist the dehumidifier in managing airflow in winter and whenever the enclosure is closed. All of the enclosure’s polycarbonate is UV protected and an opaque twin wall polycarbonate was also installed in the roof to provide shade and in the street-facing end to provide privacy. The Pool Enclosure Company recommends that the enclosure is kept closed when not in use to maximise water efficiency and pool heating; however, leisure centre management also has the option to
18 | POOL + SPA January/February 2015
Inside the new TPEC enclosure. partially or fully open the enclosure when weather permits to allow a breeze through while still providing bathers with sun protection and an outdoor feel. This is a major benefit that an enclosure offers over a permanent structure. Despite its size, it is very easy to open, requiring just one person on each side of a segment pushing or pulling with just a few fingers. The enclosure also improves the pool’s energy efficiency. Any heat produced inside the pool is retained more effectively, reducing heating requirements and energy use. The enclosure ensures the pool retains heat very well, while also naturally heating the water through sunlight. This results in a temperature increase of approximately 10°C. Chemical loss due to evaporation is eliminated, as is water loss, and cleaning systems need to be run less frequently as the enclosure prevents debris from entering the pool. The Pool Enclosure Company estimates that the running costs of an average-sized swimming pool are reduced by around 70% once it is enclosed. While the learn-to-swim pool’s equipment still runs year-round, the year-round swimming season means that it does not run unnecessarily. Installing the enclosure was a win for the council, the community and the environment alike. Between the energy, water and chemical savings plus the increased revenue, the pool enclosure is expected to pay for itself within three to four years. Since the pool has been enclosed, an additional 600+ children per week use the learn-to-swim pool during the winter. Since the pool is now in use an additional seven months of the year, the council is now receiving year-round revenue, more than doubling its revenue streams while significantly reducing the environmental impact and energy use of the pool.
The Pool Enclosure Company www.thepoolenclosurecompany.com.au
WWW.POOLANDSPAREVIEW.COM.AU