South Waikato District Council - Tokoroa Swimming Pool & Leisure Centre
Supplier/Installer: Energy Conscious Design Ltd / PL Gas & Solar
A feasibility study was conducted in mid-2007 on the South Waikato Tokoroa Leisure Centre to determine the value of installing a solar water heating system for the pools' showers.
The study reveals that the showers currently use 620,500 litres of hot water each year, which requires 34,000 kilowatt hours per annum to heat.
The study led to the installation of a solar hot water heating system at the Tokoroa indoor pool, which consisted of 24 1 m2 panels. The system acts as a pre-heater to the existing hot water system with the solar panels using the sun's energy to pre-heat water.
An estimated 18,400 kilowatt hours of solar energy is anticipated to be collected per annum. The study predicted good savings by shifting to renewable energy sources.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) contributed $13,500 toward the cost of the estimated $25,425-system through its Grants for Public Buildings finance scheme.
With the monetary savings achieved it will take approximately 6.5 years to pay off the total cost of the system while subsequently using less than half the amount of finite energy resources.
But South Waikato didn't stop there. Another project was already in the channels and early in 2009 Mayor Neil Sinclair announced a solar pilot project "to investigate the feasibility of mass adoption of solar technology in homes". Supported by PL Gas and Solar and South Waikato District Council, Energy Options is offering installation of solar heating to householders at a cost of $3400 with finance available.
South Waikato District Council is currently accepting applications from interested residents. Houses will need to meet certain criteria to ensure they are adaptable to the new solar energy system.
For more information please contact the South Waikato District Council.
