Expect a high base load from pool pumps, ventilation and dehumidification, with opening hours from early morning to late evening, seven days a week.
What to check first
- Pool hall ventilation and dehumidification running at daytime levels overnight
- Filtration pumps that could run more slowly outside opening hours
- Sports hall and studio lighting left on between bookings
- Saunas, steam rooms and water heaters switched on earlier than needed
- Equipment that kept running while the centre was closed for maintenance
Setting the opening hours
Opening hours vary by day and change during school holidays, so enter them carefully. A centre open 14 hours a day has a short closed period, and small changes to settings in that period make a big difference.
Use these as a starting point. Each site is compared with its own calendar, so getting the hours right matters more than the type of building.
How does your building compare?
To see whether a site's total use is high for its type, compare its kWh per square metre with the government survey ranges in our electricity benchmarks by sector. Then use the half-hourly pattern to find out why. Questions about the analyser itself are answered in the FAQ.
Thinking about solar panels? The analyser's Capacity tab shows how much of a system's output a building like this would use itself, and the UK Solar Calculator works out the cost and payback. See sizing solar from half-hourly data.
Questions people ask
Is a high base load normal for a pool?
Yes. Pool equipment has to run continuously. What matters is whether it runs harder than needed outside opening hours, for example ventilation at full speed overnight.
What should I look at first?
Overnight use, and how quickly demand falls after closing. Pool covers and slower overnight ventilation and filtration are common places to start.
