The LC Swansea and Kelda
Working in partnership with Freedom Leisure, The LC Swansea reduced water and energy consumption by 67% saving over £22,000 per year, at current costs, without affecting member experience.
71%
67%
67%
59 tonnes
* Annual estimated savings based on data collected.
About Freedom Leisure
Freedom Leisure is a not-for-profit leisure trust that manages leisure and cultural facilities across the UK, with a clear focus on improving lives through high-quality leisure services.
The LC Swansea is one of the city’s flagship leisure centres, home to Wales’ largest indoor waterpark, a modern two-storey gym and a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award winner. The centre has recently completed a £600,000 gym refurbishment.
Facilities:
– One of the largest facilities in Swansea
– Two-storey gym
– Sports and Exhibition Hall
– Over 130 fitness classes
Project summary
As a preferred supplier to Freedom Leisure, Kelda Technology was invited to help improve operational efficiency at The LC Swansea.
Following a site audit, 24 showers in the Village changing rooms were selected for replacement. Kelda’s water-saving shower technology was recommended to significantly reduce water use without compromising the shower experience, supporting sustainability goals while continuing to deliver a first-class service.
Our approach
Kelda Technology is the pioneer of innovative water-saving showers. With greater power than a traditional shower, Kelda’s Air-Powered showers satisfy expectations of both high performance, efficiency and environmental integrity. By applying innovative technology, Kelda is able to offer a shower solution that, for the first time, can help significantly reduce water and energy consumption, and in the process reduce carbon emissions. And all of this is done without sacrificing user experience.
Process
– Establish the Baseline Flow Rate (BFR) of current showers
– Understand showering behaviour
– Prepare Water & Energy Estimation – detailing annual savings
– Roll-out with full training, marketing support and handover
The Challenge
Kelda Technology was tasked with reducing water and energy use without impacting the shower experience or member satisfaction.
The existing showers were nearing the end of their life and operated at a high flow rate of 14–16 litres per minute. As part of LC Swansea’s refurbishment programme, 24 showers were selected to be upgraded to Kelda’s next-generation water-saving shower system. Kelda’s Air-Powered™ technology has been proven to significantly reduce water use while maintaining a powerful, enjoyable shower.
Installation
Twenty-four Kelda water-saving showers were installed in the Village changing rooms.
The Air-Powered™ Fixed CV model was chosen due to the available ceiling void and its straightforward installation. To avoid disruption, the work was completed out of hours by a Kelda-approved MEP contractor. Each shower was supplied with blended water from a group mixer, and to keep costs low and maximise savings, the existing timed PIR sensors were retained and set to 30 seconds to further reduce water use.
Results
Kelda showers were installed at a flow rate of just 5 litres per minute, while still delivering the spray power you’d expect from a 10-litre shower – with no compromise on comfort or performance.
Customer response has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% acceptance. Early estimates show a 67% reduction in annual water and energy use, delivering projected savings of £114,348 over five years and a return on investment in under eight months.
By upgrading to Kelda showers, the site is expected to save around 7.2 million litres of water every year. The reduced water and energy use also cuts carbon emissions, with savings equivalent to planting nearly 30,000 trees each year.
Want to discover how Kelda can help?
Related Links
Case Studies: A collection of real-world stories, insights and updates from across our projects and partnerships
Find Out More
Testimonials: Discover what our clients have to say about Kelda
Find Out More