Sunshine and swimmers have been in abundance this summer and in a few days (on 14 September) we are saying goodbye to them and closing our season. But there have been other benefits! That data haven't been fully collected yet, but it has been a bumper season for private party bookings, lessons, schools, lanes, public swims, and special sessions. The ladies' therapeutic sessions have been particularly well received, and the morning swims have been a real treat for a regular cohort of users.

It has been a joy to get an energetic outdoor swim in the gorgeous weather

But the sunshine hasn't just brought the swimmers into the site, it has also (together with the recently purchased thermal insulating blanket that we deploy overnight) kept the pool warm and reliable throughout the summer. The pool water (yes, see here: the water itself) is heated by thermal solar panels on the roof of the changing rooms – and when the sun doesn't shine we have to use off-peak electricity to warm it overnight. This summer, the amount of solar heat has provided a very large proportion of the demand – more than any other season before. The total electricity consumed is about 60% of our usual consumption, and that has saved us a very significant cost. In the previous four years (2021–2024) we consumed 250 kWh on average each day and this summer we are down to 150 kWh per day*. And we haven't deliberately reduced our running temperatures like many other swimming pools in the country (we aim for 28-30C).

So this summer has been good for the swimmers and has cut our costs significantly.

Let's hope we get some more summers like this one!

* and 75kWh of this is used each day by the circulation pump running continuously