Green investment hedges against future fuel cost rises at Yearsley Pool in York
Yearsley Pool has spent £40k to save thousands in future fuel bills and reduce its carbon footprint
GLL – the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise leisure operator - has invested over £40,000 in new pool covers at Yearsley Pool in York as part of a decarbonisation and utility reduction strategy.
The investment has the full support of the City of York Council who are themselves mitigating for increased energy costs.
Over the past few years, City of York Council and GLL have worked together to invest in carbon reduction measures. Now the 50 yard public pool built in 1908 will be entirely covered when not in use by a close-fitting cover that will reduce energy consumption by at least 39,000kWh – and save 9092kg (or 9 tonnes) of carbon annually.
The investment will reduce utility costs by up to 10% each year. In 2023 this is estimated to be just over £32,000.
Yearsley Pool now joins the other public pools in the city run by GLL on behalf of City of York Council that all have pool covers and are also benefitting from green investment with LED lighting and new variable speed drives which slow the speed of the water circulation/air handling when the facilities are not in use or are running at optimum levels.
Paul Bickle, GLL’s York Partnership Manager said: “Gas and electricity costs have risen to unprecedented levels and pools are big users of energy. The energy price cap merely protects against further rises over the next six months and ignores the 150% rise in energy costs we have experienced since 2019.
“So it’s absolutely essential that we work to reduce running costs as well as carbon emissions.”
“Managing costs allows us to operate sustainably and maintain an affordable heath and wellbeing offer for local residents.”
Councillor Darryl Smalley, City of York Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Communities, said: “This investment is great news not only for Yearsley Pool and the city’s ongoing commitment to the historic local leisure facility, but also for the environment. Reducing the pool’s running costs will help to ensure that swimming continues to be affordable for local residents at a time when so many are facing significant financial pressures.
“With the opening of the York Leisure Centre (with a 6 lane, 25 metre swimming pool) at the LNER Community Stadium in 2020, York is bucking the national trend; investing in existing facilities and opening swimming pools for residents and visitors.”