Net Zero Week in Camden

Net Zero Week highlights Camden Leisure Centre's journey towards a greener future.

As the UK marks Net Zero Week (4–11 July), leisure centres across Camden are showcasing how investment in greener infrastructure is helping to reduce carbon emissions, improve environmental sustainability and support Camden Council's ambition to create a cleaner, healthier borough for future generations.

Working in partnership with Camden Council, Better has been delivering a range of environmental improvement projects designed to make Camden's leisure facilities more energy efficient, resilient and sustainable. These initiatives not only help reduce the environmental impact of operating leisure centres but also ensure that residents can continue to enjoy high-quality facilities in a more sustainable way.

At the heart of this work are major decarbonisation projects at Kentish Town Sports Centre and Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre. Decarbonisation refers to the process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions associated with buildings and services. In leisure centres, which typically consume significant amounts of energy due to the heating of swimming pools, sports halls, gyms and changing facilities, decarbonisation plays a crucial role in tackling climate change.

The projects at Kentish Town and Swiss Cottage involve replacing traditional fossil fuel-powered heating systems with modern air source heat pumps. These systems capture heat from the outside air and use it to provide heating and hot water far more efficiently than conventional gas boilers. By moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy technologies, the centres will significantly reduce their carbon emissions while maintaining comfortable environments for customers and staff.

Decarbonisation projects also involve a wider package of improvements beyond heating upgrades. These can include enhancing building insulation, improving energy management systems, installing more efficient lighting, reducing energy waste and modernising equipment to consume less energy overall. Together, these measures help lower running costs, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve the long-term sustainability of our Camden facilities.

As Camden continues its journey towards a lower-carbon future, these investments illustrate the important role leisure centres can play in achieving net zero ambitions. Through decarbonisation, energy efficiency improvements and environmental enhancements, Camden's leisure facilities are helping to create healthier, more sustainable communities for residents today and for generations to come.