AusLeisure

Aquatics and Recreation Victoria, in conjunction with Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, have released the results of their two year study into the energy usage and indoor environmental quality of Victorian aquatic and recreation facilities.

Entitled A Guide For Benchmarking Energy and the Indoor Environmental Quality of Aquatic Centres in Victoria, the document sets out to develop benchmarking guidelines for designing and operating aquatic centres in Victoria.

The guidelines aim to assist local government, architects, construction companies, engineering firms, facility management organisations and other industry stakeholders manage energy consumption by improving day to day operations and guiding environmental decisions in the design of new infrastructure.

Topics covered include operational benchmarks, indoor environmental quality, performance of building envelope and design guidelines.

Each of the aquatic facilities (six in Victoria and one in NSW), were subject to a wide range of testing procedures, including thermal comfort, building envelope permeability, and carbon dioxide and chloramine levels in the pool hall.

According to ARV Chief Executive Anthony McIntosh “the variability between our aquatic leisure facilities is enormous when size, age, design, building materials, operations and other factors are taken into account. And, they consume large of amounts of energy.

“The Guide does a really good job explaining complex design and operational options in layman’s terms.

“It will help the industry make informed decisions to improve the efficiency of its facilities, reduce operational and maintenance expenditure, and maximise their useful life. This is all about providing the Victorian community with first rate aquatic and leisure experiences on a sustainable basis.

“We think this project is a world first. It’s been a complex undertaking and the support we’ve had from the industry to complete it has been sensational.”

The seven aquatic and recreation facilities that participated in the project were: Splashdown Aquatic Centre, Greater City of Geelong; Waves Leisure Centre, City of Kingston; Peter Krenz Leisure Centre, City of Greater Bendigo; Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC), City of Glen Eira; Pelican Park Recreation Centre, Mornington Peninsula Shire; Aqualink Box Hill, City of Whitehorse (all Victoria) and the Warringah Aquatic Centre, Warringah Council, NSW.

Copies of A Guide For Benchmarking Energy and the Indoor Environmental Quality of Aquatic Centres in Victoria can be obtained from ARV. For more information contact ARV on 03 9271 3800, E: info@aquaticsandrecreation.org.au

Images: Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (top) and Sunbather heatpumps at the Warringah Aquatic Centre (below).

15th March 2016 - ARV ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY AWARDS, INAUGURAL REGIONAL POOLS CONFERENCE

5th March 2016 - NEW HANOVIA SWIMLINE TECHOLOGY TREATS POOL WATER WITH UP TO 60% LESS POWER CONSUMPTION

4th March 2016 - CEFC PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES

25th November 2015 - SUNBATHER DELIVERS ENERGY SAVINGS FOR AQUAMOVES SHEPPARTON AND SA AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE

4th November 2015 - TRIGENERATION POWER PLANTS TO BOOST ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT CITY OF SYDNEY POOLS 

6th September 2014 - RESERVOIR LEISURE CENTRE’S SUSTAINABLE FUTURE