Oxford City Council has reduced total energy use across its five leisure centres by 26% since 2019/20, cutting more than 500 tonnes of carbon emissions as part of its ongoing decarbonisation programme
Comparing energy use in 2019/20 with 2024/25, total consumption across the Council’s leisure estate has fallen from 11.38 million kWh – a reduction of over 3 million kWh.
At current energy prices, the reduction in consumption compared to 2019/20 equates to around £45,000 a year.
The most significant change has been a 40% reduction in fossil fuel gas use, which has fallen from 8,466,994 kWh to 5,111,972 kWh. This has resulted in a saving of 614 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from gas alone.
Electricity use has increased by 12% over the same period, reflecting a planned shift away from gas powered systems. Using a consistent carbon emissions factor, electricity increased by 91 tonnes. However, this increase is outweighed by the substantial reduction in gas emissions, resulting in an overall net reduction of 523 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent across the leisure estate. The increased electricity demand is partly mitigated by on-site solar.
Site-by-site carbon savings include:
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86 tonnes at Barton Leisure Centre
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130 tonnes at Ferry Leisure Centre
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206 tonnes at Leys Leisure Centre
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59 tonnes at Hinksey Outdoor Pool
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42 tonnes at Oxford Ice Rink
Key measures delivered across the estate, with no site closures, include:
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Installation of a low-emissivity ceiling at Oxford Ice Rink, along with new energy-efficient boilers
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Air source heat pumps and additional solar panels at Barton Leisure Centre, supported by funding from Sport England
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Air source heat pumps at the Leys Pools and Leisure Centre
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Installation of new energy efficient air handling units (AHUs) at Ferry Leisure Centre
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Energy-efficient Kelda showers installed at Ferry and Leys leisure centres
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LED lighting upgrades across leisure sites
New water source heat pumps and new energy efficient boilers were also installed at Hinksey Outdoor Pool. These were only recently commissioned so further positive impacts are expected in future years.
Oxford City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has committed to reducing emissions from its own operations as part of its wider zero carbon strategy. Further decarbonisation projects are being developed as the Council continues to transition away from fossil fuels, including commissioning feasibility studies to install heat pump solutions in further Council buildings as part of the next phase of decarbonisation.
“Leisure centres are among the most energy-intensive buildings in our estate, particularly swimming pools. Achieving a 26% reduction in total energy use and a 40% cut in gas consumption is a significant step forward. We are focused on practical measures that reduce emissions while maintaining high-quality facilities for residents and reducing ongoing costs to the taxpayer. This is about cutting carbon in a way that is both responsible and financially sensible.”
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council
Read more information about leisure centre decarbonisation projects.
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