Live AU Certificate Prices Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube Buy and Sell Global RECs Contact

Hibernation of the aquatic centre during COVID-19 period

Share this article

In these unprecedented times, our buildings and facilities need to adapt to a new way of working as we have done. In this article, we explore some ways aquatic centres can save energy and money during hibernation.

Over the last few weeks, several social distancing measures have been implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 in different states and cities. Among those measures are the closure of indoor sport facilities and entertainment venues. Aquatic Centres are concerns and several centres across the country are now close to the public.

It is unknown how long those restrictions will be enforced for. However, it seems clear that it will last for more than 2 months (some predictions talking about 18 months). Aquatic Centres are typically the largest energy consumers of a Council’s portfolio and hibernating them during the COVID19 period could save a significant amount of energy and money for Councils.

Shutting down an aquatic centre is definitely possible, although some procedures must be clearly followed.

Here we propose three stages to slow down or shut down the aquatic centre:

  1. Shutting down of the water heating,
  2. Reprogramming of the HVACHeating, ventilation, and air conditioning is the technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. system to slow down the pool hall air heating,
  3. Shutting down water recirculation and drainage of the pool.
 

Shutting down of the water heating

This is the easiest and most immediate source of energy saving. All aquatic centres consume energy to maintain the pool water at a suitable temperature. The heat is supplied by one or several heating systems such as gas boilers, electric heat pumps, cogeneration system, solar thermal, or heat recovery systems. During this extended period of time where the pool will be unoccupied, maintaining the heating system active is not relevant.

For every heating systems, especially for gas boilers, heat pumps, and cogeneration systems, there are procedures provided in the user’s manual which explain how to hibernate such equipment. The purpose of a hibernation procedure (or extended shut down) is to ensure that the system remains inert and does not degrade during the shutdown period.

If necessary, get your contractor to attend the site and perform the procedure.

The BMCS should be maintained in operation during the whole period of COVID-19. If necessary, you can change the pool water setpoint to 0°C (in order to remove the need from the BMCS to activate heating and to avoid getting fault alarms).

The consequences of stopping the heating are:

Note that, when available, pool covers should be used during the whole period in order to protect the water from dust and reduce evaporation.

Reprogramming of the HVAC system (applies to indoor pools)

The next step of the shutting down of the aquatic centre is related to the HVAC system. This applies to indoor pools only. While the pool is unattended, heating and cooling of the pool hall air are not necessary. However, to protect the building from condensation, you must keep the relative humidity within an acceptable range and the air temperature above dew point!

Separately, you can slow down the fans used for the air circulation. It is important to keep the air flowing, but it should be limited to the strict minimum required. Reducing the air movement reduces evaporation from exposed pool water, which help to maintain the relative humidity within an acceptable range.

Get the pool operators or BMCS contractor to adapt the set points and controls of the BMCS:

 

Shutting down water recirculation and drainage of the pool

Finally, the recirculation pumps could be stopped. However, this can have a significant impact on other assets and must be carefully planned. For instance, when recirculation pumps are stopped, chlorine used for disinfection of pool water will naturally degrade until none is left. At that point, microorganisms can strive especially with natural light. This can become a health hazard. If the circulation pumps are stopped, it would be recommended to drain the water out to reduce health hazards.

As a minimum, any superfluous filters should be isolated and put into a hibernation mode. Especially with UFF (Ultra Fine Filters), make sure you follow the protocols described by the manufacturer.

Note: if you slow down the pumps to save energy, make sure that you comply with the minimum flow rate required by the filtration system! Sand filters, particularly, do have a minimum flow rate. Below this value, water can create channels in which biofilm forms. These biofilms then accelerate the growth of micro-organisms.

Shutting down all unnecessary equipment

Finally, and this applies to any step above, shut down all non-essential items such as:

How much money could be saved for the above recommendations?  

Below is the typical energy breakdown of swimming pools

Typical ratio Assets
60-80% Pool heating (and air heating for indoor pools)
10-15% Pumping system
5-15% Domestic hot water
5-10% AC, office, other

Now, consider your annual energy expenditure. Let’s assume $300k. Note that, as a rule of thumb:

With steps #1 and #2, the pool could save from $15k/month to $20k/month.

With step #3, the pool could save from $2.5k/month to $3.8/month.

All non-essential items could save from $2.5k/month to $6.3/month.

Note that this shutdown can be the opportunity to move forward with the implementation of equipment upgrade and energy efficiency improvements.

If you have any questions, the Northmore Gordon team will be happy to help.

Stay safe.

You may also like:
$1.6M win for sustainable community infrastructure.
Swimming Towards Sustainability: How to Reduce Energy Costs in Large Pools and Aquatic Centres
Feeling a bit gassy & bloated? Increase your energy efficiency, reduce costs and support the environment

Latest Updates

ASRS Group 3: are you in scope and don’t know it?

Correct as at 13 September 2026.  If your company is a large proprietary company, you may be legally required to report under Australia’s mandatory climate

Read More »

Welcome to our August & September 2026 Compliance Update.

This edition confirms Northmore Gordon’s accreditation for three new PDRS battery activities, tracks the VEUVictorian Energy Upgrades is a Victorian government energy efficiency program that

Read More »

Australian Certificate Markets – August 2026 Update 

Price Summary  Certificate  Open  Close  Range  Effective cap  Movement / Reason  PRC  $2.70  $3.35  $2.70 – $3.35  $3.80  ▲ Rallied from 14 August on the

Read More »

Where’s the value in renewable heat?

Most renewable heat conversations start with a technology question: heat pump, biomass, biogas, or electrify the whole boiler? It’s the wrong starting point. The full

Read More »

Beyond annual matching: The evolution of time-stamped RECs

For more than a decade, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECsI-RECs, GOs, TIGRsTradeable Instrument for Global Renewables (TIGR) Registry is an online platform for tracking and transferring renewable energy certificates (RECS), enabling developers to generate,verify and sell RECs. The registry is run by APX, a US company that provides infrastructure for environmental markets around the world., LGCs, ZNECs, J-Credits) have underpinned global renewable electricity procurement. By purchasing RECs equivalent to

Read More »

Solar irrigation upgrades: Don’t let certificate funding go unclaimed 

Irrigation pumps are one of the biggest hidden costs on an Australian farm. In particular, if they run on diesel, they’re exposed to fuel price swings, need constant

Read More »

Get in touch

Australia

1300 854 561 (Advisory)

1300 878 500 (Certificates)

Melbourne

Suite 1, Level 4

607 Bourke Street

Melbourne

VIC 3000

Singapore

+65 6690 2480



Singapore

1 Keong Saik Road,

Singapore 089109

Stay up to date

mailto:%20info@northmoregordon.com https://twitter.com/northmoregordon https://www.linkedin.com/company/northmore-gordon-pty-ltd https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdGc6mABpL2XxVUCrVjYQ1g

Alternatively, complete the form and we will be in

touch with you.

https://northmoregordon.com
Services
Sectors
Upgrades
Certificates
Government Schemes
Helpful Links

What is the article 'Hibernation of the aquatic centre during COVID-19 period' about?

The article explains how aquatic centres can save energy and money by hibernating during COVID-19, since indoor sport facilities and entertainment venues, including aquatic centres, were closed due to social distancing measures. It notes aquatic centres are typically the largest energy consumers in a Council's portfolio, so hibernating them could save significant energy and money.

Who published this article and when?

The article was published by Northmore Gordon on April 20, 2020.

What three stages does Northmore Gordon propose for slowing down or shutting down an aquatic centre?

The three proposed stages are: 1) shutting down of the water heating, 2) reprogramming of the HVAC system to slow down pool hall air heating, and 3) shutting down water recirculation and drainage of the pool.

What should be done with the pool water setpoint when shutting down water heating?

If necessary, the pool water setpoint can be changed to 0°C so the BMCS (Building Management and Control System) does not need to activate heating and to avoid fault alarms. The BMCS itself should be maintained in operation during the whole COVID-19 period.

What are the consequences of stopping the pool heating system?

Stopping the heating leads to energy savings from stopped pumps in the heating water loops, the pool water will naturally cool down (taking several hours up to one or two days to reheat when the centre reopens, depending on water volume and heating capacity), and the heating systems go into hibernation mode with no operational hazards and savings on maintenance costs.

What precaution is recommended for the HVAC system in indoor pools during hibernation?

For indoor pools, while heating and cooling of the pool hall air are not necessary, the relative humidity must be kept within an acceptable range and the air temperature must remain above the dew point to protect the building from condensation. Air circulation fans can be slowed down but airflow should be limited to the strict minimum required.

What risk is associated with shutting down water recirculation pumps, and what is recommended?

When recirculation pumps are stopped, chlorine used for disinfection will naturally degrade until none is left, allowing microorganisms to thrive, especially with natural light, which can become a health hazard. It is recommended to drain the water out to reduce health hazards if circulation pumps are stopped, and any minimum flow rate required by filtration systems (e.g., sand filters) must be maintained to prevent biofilm formation.

What other non-essential equipment should be shut down at an aquatic centre?

Non-essential items that should be shut down include domestic hot water systems (typically for change rooms), lighting on a timer, any automatic features on a timer, small A/C units for office rooms, and gym equipment.

What is the typical energy consumption breakdown for swimming pools according to the article?

According to the article, citing the NSW environment department's energy efficient water heating technology guide for aquatic centres, the typical breakdown is: 60-80% for pool heating (and air heating for indoor pools), 10-15% for the pumping system, 5-15% for domestic hot water, and 5-10% for AC, office, and other uses.

How much money could an aquatic centre save by implementing these hibernation steps, assuming $300k annual energy expenditure?

With steps #1 and #2 (shutting down water heating and reprogramming HVAC), the pool could save $15k/month to $20k/month. With step #3 (shutting down water recirculation and drainage), savings range from $2.5k/month to $3.8k/month. Shutting down all non-essential items could save an additional $2.5k/month to $6.3k/month.

Images on This Page