Energy saving consultancy helps leisure firm reduce carbon footprint

Almost 500 tonnes of carbon a year have been saved thanks to energy-saving measures at Swansea leisure facilities.

Freedom Leisure, the not-for-profit charitable leisure trust which operates leisure centres in Swansea as well as dozens of other local authorities across the UK, has been working in partnership with an energy saving consultancy to deliver a number of projects to minimise the environmental impact of its leisure centres.

Award winning consultancy and industry leader, Leisure Energy has been supporting the not-for-profit organisation with projects across the UK.

Amongst recent projects was a programme of energy saving measures implemented
across the community leisure facilities in Swansea, South Wales.

Operated by Freedom Leisure, on behalf of Swansea Council, the facilities have benefitted from significant energy savings and a reduction in carbon of almost 500 tonnes per year. This is equivalent to taking 100 cars off the road per year or saving the entire energy use of an average house for almost 40 years.

This success is being replicated across the Freedom Leisure group, with the organisation
able to reduce its carbon emissions by 841 tonnes (CO2) and also reduce both its gas (-
5.1%) and electricity usage (-9.2%) during 2019-20. However, the organisation is now
looking to boost these efforts even further.

The recent award winning project at The Stour Centre, Ashford, is testimony to this. The
carbon reduction project at the Freedom Leisure centre was delivered with support from
the Public Sector Decarbonisation Grant and will result in carbon emissions being halved
at the centre. The project has been recognised with multiple industry awards, including
Energy Managers Association: Energy Management Consultancy Partnership 2021; and
New Civil Engineer: Best Use of Technology: Carbon Reduction (TechFest 2021).

Working on behalf of Freedom Leisure, Leisure Energy have played an instrumental role
in the delivery and success of these projects.

Neil Bland, Managing Director – Leisure Energy said: “Leisure energy have been working with Freedom leisure for about 6 years, helping with their energy efficiency, sustainability and decarbonisation pledges. We recently helped Freedom Leisure reduce the carbon footprint of the community leisure facilities in Swansea by nearly 500 tonnes per year. Our most recent project has also won two prestigious awards for decarbonisation, again – showing that Freedom Leisure are at the forefront of carbon reduction in the Leisure sector.”

Ivan Horsfall-Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Leisure added: “Minimising environmental impact is a priority for Freedom Leisure right across our organisation. We are totally committed to being socially and environmentally aware, delivering a sustainable service for local communities – the success and recognition of these recent projects in Swansea and Ashford are testimony to that.”

Freedom Leisure say that these awards follow the recent appointment of a new Sustainability and Environmental Manager. Angela Brown was recently appointed to the newly created
role in a bid to secure its commitment towards a greener future. Brown has joined the
Senior Leadership Team and Freedom Leisure say she will play a key role in driving the sustainability and environmental efforts at all levels across the group.

(Lead image: Freedom Leisure)