Solar panels have been installed at Appleby Leisure Centre to help cut energy costs.
Triple glazing was installed in the autumn and 190 solar panels have now been fitted to the roof, thanks to funding from Sport England and Westmorland and Furness Council.
Over the past few weeks, a £388,000 investment from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has allowed the first stage of major boiler replacement work to take place.
The work form part of a wider project, funded through a £1.75 million grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix and run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The grant has helped replace gas boilers with air source heat pumps at key council buildings.
The authority’s decarbonisation plans aim to get Westmorland and Furness to a carbon net zero position by 2037.
The council will match fund a minimum of 12% of the project costs from their prioritised capital maintenance budget, taking the total project value to over £2 million.
The estimated annual total carbon emissions saved from carrying out the above projects is 343.2 tCO2e, the equivalent of driving around the world 52 times.
Appleby Leisure Centre reopened successfully following work to remove the air handling unit and complete preparatory works for the replacement of the existing gas boiler with a more energy efficient air source heat pump.
The building’s plant room pipes have also been insulated to reduce heat loss.
There will need to be a further short closure at a later date, which is yet to be confirmed, to allow for the final connection of the air source heat pump, following confirmation from electricity suppliers.
John Murray, cabinet member for climate change, biodiversity and regulatory services, said: “Getting the pool reopened is a great outcome for local residents, and it shows the value of investing in energy efficient upgrades.
“By improving the performance of buildings like our leisure centres, we are reducing running costs and carbon emissions at the same time.
“This funding helps us continue that journey towards net zero, while ensuring vital community facilities remain affordable and sustainable to operate.”
Andrew Jarvis, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for finance, said: “We are really pleased to see the swimming pool back open for our communities to enjoy.
“This grant builds on earlier investment that has already made a real difference, including energy saving measures such as triple glazing and solar PV.
“These improvements not only help keep facilities open and fit for the future, but also support our wider ambition to achieve net zero while cutting long term energy costs.”
Ian Rodger, director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, said: “At Salix we’re proud to support projects like Appleby Leisure Centre, where targeted investment is delivering immediate carbon savings alongside long-term operational benefits.
“This scheme shows how decarbonisation funding can help councils modernise essential community facilities for local people, while making meaningful progress toward net zero.”
