Net Zero Week in North Kesteven

As Net Zero Week (4th–11th July) shines a spotlight on environmental action across the UK, leisure centres in North Kesteven are playing their part in building a more sustainable future through major investment and environmental improvements.

Working alongside North Kesteven District Council, Better has been involved in significant projects designed to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and enhance sustainability across North Kesteven centres. These initiatives are helping to ensure that local facilities remain sustainable for future generations while continuing to provide high-quality services for residents.

One of the largest projects has been the ongoing District Heating Programme, which includes investment at Sleaford Leisure Centre.

Through an innovative partnership between North Kesteven District Council and the nearby power station, residual heated water from the power station is supplied to the leisure centre via a dedicated pipe network. The heat is transferred through a heat exchanger located within the centre's boiler room before being distributed throughout the building's heating system. This allows the centre to utilise otherwise wasted energy, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.

Complementing this initiative, solar photovoltaic panels were installed at Sleaford Leisure Centre during summer 2025 through funding from Sport England, helping the centre generate renewable electricity on site.

Additional measures have also been introduced to improve energy efficiency.

Assistant Manager at Sleaford Leisure Centre, Ben Jacklin, highlighted some of these measures:

"The district heating system has made a huge difference to how we heat the centre. By using residual heat from the nearby power station, we're able to significantly reduce our reliance on traditional gas heating and make use of energy that would otherwise go to waste."

"Apart from periods of planned maintenance, our gas usage is effectively close to zero thanks to the district heating network. Year-to-date, we've already seen a 20% reduction in gas consumption, which is a fantastic achievement."

"The installation of solar panels during 2025, supported through Sport England funding, has given us another source of renewable energy. Since the panels were fitted, we've seen electricity usage from the grid reduce by almost 10%, helping both the environment and the long-term sustainability of the centre."

"We've also introduced practical measures like a new pool cover, which helps retain heat when the pool isn't in use. That means less energy is needed to maintain water temperatures and lower gas usage when the district heating system is unavailable."

"Alongside these improvements, we operate seasonal energy protocols across our centres. By adjusting temperatures, ventilation and building management systems throughout the year, we can reduce energy consumption while maintaining a comfortable environment for our customers."

We're proud to be supporting North Kesteven District Council's environmental ambitions. These investments demonstrate how leisure centres can play a meaningful role in reducing carbon emissions while continuing to provide high-quality facilities for local residents.

As North Kesteven and Sleaford Leisure Centre continues its journey towards a lower-carbon future, these projects highlight how leisure centres can play an important role in tackling climate change, reducing energy consumption and creating more sustainable communities for everyone.