The Die Heygrave swimming pool, built in 1976, was the largest energy slumber in the municipality of Heusden. The old swimming pool burned many tens of thousands of cubic meters of – now very expensive – natural gas for 46 years. However, when the old swimming pool reopens next month after a major renovation, it will be off the gas. The walls are 15 centimeters thicker and a geothermal source ensures that the water stays at the right temperature.
“When the first plans were developed in 2019 to disconnect the swimming pool from the gas, we obviously did not know that there would be an energy crisis and sky-high energy prices upon completion,” said municipal spokesman Mark Doedijns. “The swimming pool is the first project of eleven municipal buildings in the municipality of Heusden that must be energy neutral by 2030.”
“An insulation shell has been built around the old swimming pool.”
“In order to keep the heat in, an insulation shell has been built around the old swimming pool,” says Doedijns. “The walls have become 10 to 15 centimeters thicker due to the applied insulation boards. There is also a completely new insulating roof on it.”
“The heat comes from a geothermal source, which is tapped at a depth of 80 meters. In winter we use the heat for heating the swimming pool and for the water. In the summer we release the excess heat back to the deep source. This interaction should ensure that the geothermal source remains constant throughout the year.”
Making the pool gasless also has its price. The cost of the renovation is 3.3 million euros. “It is expected that the greatest savings in energy and reduction of CO2 emissions can be achieved per euro invested in this project,” says Ellen Vogels, who is project leader on behalf of the municipality of Heusden.
“We started this project in 2019,” says Doedijns. “Because as a municipality we believe that you should also set an example. You can argue for sustainability and economical use of energy, but then you also have to set an example yourself. We did that with this first project and more will follow. .”
“In principle, the entrance fee will not go up.”
Despite the costs of the ‘gasless operation’, the users of the swimming pool do not have to worry that the entrance fee will now also rise (significantly). “In principle, the entrance fee will not go up,” says Doedijs. “The price will probably still be indexed. Getting rid of the gas does not mean that the costs are also lower.”
Although the pool is gasless, electricity is used to light and run all pumps and other equipment. There are solar panels on the adjacent sports hall, but they supply energy back to the grid.
Although it is possible to swim again from October 3, there will also be work on the pool. It concerns the so-called final jobs and the proverbial ‘dotting the i’. “It is possible that visitors sometimes experience nuisance from this”, according to the municipality. “If everything goes according to plan, the work will be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023. Swimming pool Die Heygrave is then a completely gasless swimming pool.”
