PARKWOOD LEISURE AND TORBAY COUNCIL PARTNERSHIP WITH LEISURE ENERGY WINS AT 2022 ENERGY AWARDS

Thursday 30th June 2022 – The work of Parkwood Leisure, Torbay Council, and energy consultancy Leisure Energy was praised at last night’s 2022 Energy Awards, with the partners winning the ‘Energy Efficient Partnership of the Year’ award.

The annual event celebrates achievements from across the energy industry, showcasing innovations, best practice, and business excellence. The winners were announced last night (Wednesday 29th June) at the finalists ceremony in London.  

The award was in recognition of an 18-month project launched in January 2021, which aimed at improving energy efficiency at Torbay Leisure Centre. 

With almost £2 million funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) secured by the site’s operator Parkwood Leisure, in partnership with Leisure Energy, the project sought to replace Torbay Leisure Centre’s existing gas boiler system with an air source heat pump. 

To reduce the running costs of the new system, secondary technologies were also installed to generate renewable electricity and improve the efficiency of other plant operations. These included solar panels, LED lighting, ventilation and pipework upgrades, as well as a new building energy management system. All work was completed while the leisure centre remained open and operational throughout – a testament to the hard work of the staff at the site.

The project has resulted in a saving of 318 tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to 60% of the annual carbon emissions associated with the operation of Torbay Leisure Centre. 

Judges praised the entry, calling it a “holistic user-focused solution, which was impressive both in scale and effectiveness.”

Glen Hall, Managing Director of Parkwood Leisure, said: “This award is a fantastic way to recognise and celebrate our extensive energy management initiatives throughout the estate and in particular the work with Torbay Council and Leisure Energy. We’re incredibly proud of this project and the benefits it’s created for Torbay Leisure Centre, and it demonstrates our commitment to the extensive support we provide to our customers.” 

Neil Bland, Managing Director of Leisure Energy, said: “We are really delighted to have won Energy Efficiency Partnership of the Year at The Energy Awards 2022 for the energy efficiency installations at Torbay Leisure Centre. It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with Parkwood Leisure, an excellent leisure facility operator, and Torbay Council, a forward thinking local authority, both of which are wholly committed to reducing energy usage and lowering carbon emissions.”