Voltage optimisers enable 10-15% energy savings for commercial buildings

Voltage optimiser

~ Innovative technology is ideal for use in swimming pools, spas and other leisure facilities ~

Energy saving technology expert Powermaster has released a range of PowaSava voltage optimisers that reduce electricity consumption and the associated costs by up to 10-15%. The technology also protects a commercial buildings’ electrical energy infrastructure and can reduce carbon emissions across the building by 10-15%.

By controlling the voltage from the main supply, the PowaSava voltage optimiser ensures that the application uses only the required amount of electricity, minimising bills. The device reduces energy bills, without any noticeable difference to electrical functions, by balancing three phase supply and optimising the mains voltage. Depending on incoming voltage it can reduce costs by optimising and improving the source, which can be reduced incrementally by ±15V on the set point.

In Northern Ireland and Scotland, Powermaster’s IWEMS® range is listed in the Carbon Trust Loan Scheme. As a result, when taking part in the scheme, organisations can benefit from 0% business loans of £3,000 - £100,000 to cover the purchase cost. It’s quite common for the energy savings alone to cover the capital cost of the equipment during the course of the loan. From April 11, 2011 the equivalent scheme in the United Kingdom will be managed by the Carbon Trust and Siemens Financial Services.

“UK Plc has been trying to improve its electrical energy infrastructure to save money and preserve the environment for some time,” explained Geoff Ranshaw, a director of Powermaster. “Our voltage optimisers are proven to increase the lifecycle of electrical equipment and reduce maintenance costs. They also help protect electrical equipment from transients, such as surges and spikes. In addition, they are suitable for operating in severe temperatures, humidity, vibration and dirty environments and can respond immediately to input and output change.”

Moreover, the system also helps lower maintenance costs on motors, lighting equipment and other electrical devices by suppressing potentially damaging harmonics. It also reduces the operating temperature on electrical equipment, further extending its lifespan and reducing the need for maintenance.

Powermaster saved 14 seconds of all global carbon emissions in 2012 alone

In 2012 alone Stafford based energy-for-pool specialists Powermaster was responsible for reducing overall UK carbon emissions by 15,136 tons. This is the result of an electricity consumption reduction of 8,115,000 kWh units, which is the equivalent of £2,389,775 based on an average cost of 8.5 pence per kWh unit – representing 14 seconds worth of all global carbon emissions.

14 seconds to save the world

Powermaster has only worked on 600 of the 5000 pools across the UK. If the carbon savings they have already made were extrapolated across the nation, it would be the equivalent of 126,133 tons per year. That translates to offsetting the carbon emissions of approximately 140,000 people.

One of the company’s key energy saving tactics is fitting variable speed drives, also known as VSDs or inverters, on pump and fan electric motor applications in private and public swimming pools. VSDs regulate the speed and rotational force (or torque) of an electric motor and reduce the energy used in-line with what the motor requires to work efficiently. Because motors used in swimming pools have a varying output requirement, installing a VSD reduces the amount of electricity used and thus the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere.

“These figures just show how effective what we do is,” said explained Geoff Renshaw, a director of Powermaster. “We typically offer energy savings of between 30-70% per annum, per facility.  This scale of energy saving confirms that we can both save you money and drastically reduce your carbon footprint.”

The Powermaster team has also developed and patented a unique Integrated Water and Energy Management System (IWEMS), which reduces electricity consumption and chemical costs in a swimming pool or spa by up to 70%. There is also a web-based remote system for monitoring usage and reliability. IWEMS maintains water quality by carefully dosing the right amount of chemicals, in response to the load, which can help to reduce water usage.

The ultimate environmental benefit provided by Powermaster’s range is the reduction of carbon emissions which contributes to a slower rate of global warming, as well as alleviating the risk of health problems.

Remote monitoring system saves pools and spas thousands

Energy-for-pool specialist Powermaster has expanded its product offering to include a remote device monitoring system for leisure centres, pools and spas. The device was developed to help facilities managers save thousands of pounds on their energy bills every month by monitoring electricity usage on pool pumps and maintaining water quality at the highest standard. 

Powermaster's RDM could save thousands in electricity bills 

 The remote device monitoring equipment employs a web-enabling system which allows data collected from industrial equipment to be published on the Internet. This data is logged in an online database containing historical information which users can access using the web browser on any PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Another benefit is that the system can be configured to generate alarms, e-mail and text message alerts. As a result, in the case of an emergency such as a pump failure for example, staff can react rapidly and take steps to remediate the situation.

Remote device monitoring not only provides efficient energy monitoring of the Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) used in pools, but also enables control functionality on these energy saving devices.

The remote monitoring device in situ

The software displays the data in an intelligible format for the user, which allows them to react in a timely manner to changes such as increased load of bathers in the pool, variation in temperature and chemicals levels. When such modifications occur, the device monitor alters the speed of VSDs accordingly.

“The remote device monitoring is a unique tool that can help save thousands of pounds in electricity bills,” enthused Geoff Renshaw, director at Powermaster. “When everyone in UK business is thinking about cutting expenses, the easiest way is to send savings to the bottom line is by effectively managing your energy consumption,” Renshaw concluded.

The remote device monitoring system has been deployed in a variety of applications in addition to pools and spas – from monitoring the status of fire alarms and water treatment equipment to temperature and tank level monitoring.

Lose the greenwash when the tank is in the red

Our Variable Speed Drives installed

With the serious threat of energy rationing on the ten year horizon, using less energy is a smart move from both a cost and business continuity perspective. Against this background, the new Cibse President David Fisk called for real performance and less greenwash in building services systems (Incoming Cibse President Calls for Benchmarking, June 2012). He’s right; the UK needs more than greenwash to manage our energy crisis. And make no mistake; the global fuel tank is in the red.

We need to implement tried and tested energy saving technologies such as variable speed drives (VSDs), rather than make spurious claims about the efficacy of unproven technologies. VSDs are proven; 90% of the lifetime cost of an electric motor comes from its energy consumption. This can be demonstrated by installing a VSD on a pool motor application; a speed decrease of 10% has been shown to produce an average energy saving of 27.1%. A relatively small speed change controlled by a VSD produces a large fall in energy consumption.

So instead of waiting for a panacea energy saving contraption to be invented, businesses should ditch the greenwash and get to the core of the problem. VSDs may be simple devices that we’ve had for many years, but the fact of the matter is they are fit for purpose.

Ackworth School slashes energy bills with Powermaster

Ackworth School

Ackworth School has significantly reduced its energy bills using Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), remote device monitoring equipment and voltage optimisation/stabilisation from energy savings technologies specialist, Powermaster. Here, Geoff Renshaw, director of Powermaster, discusses these savings in detail with Peter Cheseldine, clerk of works at Ackworth School.

Ackworth School in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was founded as a boarding school for Quaker boys and girls in 1779. Today it has 550 pupils of many different faiths aged 2-18. Ackworth School has excellent facilities including several sports pitches, a swimming pool, a sports hall, a fitness room, a gymnasium, tennis and netball courts, squash courts and use of a nearby all weather pitch and golf course.

Peter Cheseldine has been clerk of works at Ackworth School for ten years, and his experience also includes a spell as chief engineer at the landmark Savoy Hotel in London. “The Savoy had its own standby generation plant, boilers and UPS. It was like an autonomous city in its own right,” he recalls.

Shortly after joining Ackworth School, Peter recommended to the governors that it installed Variable Speed Drives (VSD’s) for the swimming pool pump motors in order to reduce energy costs, which were rising rapidly. In this respect, Peter was one of the early adopters of VSD’s in the UK, reinforced by the efforts of the Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA) who were helping get the message across to UK industry.

“I have been going to ESTA events for eight years now and I had ideas on how to save energy here at Ackworth School,” continued Peter. “But getting the financing for Variable Speed Drives approved by my superiors was an uphill struggle initially. However, as energy prices went up and up, they realised that they should be doing something to save energy.

“I was very much driven by energy savings and installing the equipment provided by Powermaster has saved the school considerable amounts of money on energy costs, particularly related to the swimming pool.

“Now we are gradually getting everything else in the school upgraded to a very advanced standard of energy saving. This is not easy because Ackworth School is a Grade 1 listed building and we are very restricted in certain areas as to what we can do. The only three-phase motors the school has are in the swimming pool, but last year, we also went on to install Powermaster’s Integrated Water & Energy Management System (IWEMS).

“IWEMS automatically tests swimming pool water quality and dosing. This also affects the speed of the pumps, so when we adopted it we saved yet more money.”

IWEMS constantly monitors the chemical demands of each individual pool, and recognises when bathing loads have changed. The system will signal the VSD’s to reduce motor speed when bathing loads are low (i.e., when chemical demands have fallen) and, conversely, to increase motor speed when bathing loads increase and when chemical demands rise.

Quite simply this means that the IWEMS system ensures that the pump motor speeds are at their lowest at ALL times, thereby maximising energy savings, whilst at the same time ensuring that chemical mixing characteristics are spot on.

Powermaster’s Remote Device Monitoring system (RDM) allows a client to access details of the performance of the installation at all times, and will show exactly what energy is being used in real time, and what has been used over a given period. All data is fed to a web-based application, which enables expert monitoring and accurate reporting.

Complementing IWEMS is the Powermaster VRS Voltage Optimiser/Stabiliser, which reduces electricity consumption and costs. The VRS automatically reduces a site voltage to a constant, stable output voltage of 380V.

Because the VRS reacts to both over-voltage and under-voltage, it guarantees a stable site voltage of 380V at all times. This is ideal for all equipment such as lighting, computers and motors, for example, all of which are designed to run more efficiently at this level. By supplying a reduced output voltage of 380V not only will this result in a significant reduction in electricity consumption, but it will also reduce wear and tear on all such equipment.

“This year, we also installed Powermaster’s VRS Voltage Optimiser/Stabiliser, which controls the voltage on site to stable levels and gets rid of harmonics, and we are looking to further reduced energy costs in the region of 7-10%,” adds Peter.

“Return on investment has been quick on this equipment, especially with speed control on the swimming pool pumps, where we are saving anything up to 30% now. Total payback was only about three years, so we have had five years of pure saving.”

70% pool and spa energy savings make an impact on global carbon emissions

Against the clock

Thirty seven seconds isn’t long is it? You can’t achieve much in that time; in fact a freediver can hold their breath for ten times as long. But 35 seconds is a long time for pool and spa energy efficiency specialist Powermaster. In 2011 alone the company has saved enough energy in the pool and spa sector to compensate for 35 seconds worth of global carbon emissions. When you think of all the factories belching out smoke and all the power plants burning coal to fire their turbines, 35 seconds suddenly seems like a long time.

Powermaster was responsible for reducing overall UK carbon emissions by 15,136 tons in 2011. This is the result of an electricity consumption reduction of 8,115,000 kWh units, which is the equivalent of £2,389,775 based on an average cost of 8.5 pence per kWh unit.

The savings are achieved by reducing electricity consumption at each site on which Powermaster works by up to 70%. This is done using a combination of variable speed drive control on pool pumps, heat transfer to maximise the heating efficiency of the building and the pool, voltage optimisation and a trademarked remote monitoring and energy efficiency product called IWEMs (Integrated Water and Energy Management).

The remote monitoring and reporting functions of this kind of technology are proving to be one of the biggest reasons that Powermaster’s customers invest. There is increasing pressure on pool and spa owners, particularly large chains, to prove how much they are reducing their electricity bills by and, as a result, how much carbon they are saving.

In fact, the UK Government’s Climate Change Levy is a charge on energy usage for business and the public sector introduced to encourage energy efficiency. Effectively, large businesses are taxed on their energy usage, so it makes sense to both reduce it and prove what you use.

Managing water quality and chemical usage is an additional benefit of the remote monitoring and reporting functions of IWEMs. For instance, because the system operates in real time it can alert you by SMS or e-mail that your free chlorine level has dropped with ten seconds of the event.

“Reducing energy usage both improves a company’s economic sustainability and allows it to contribute to the UK’s overall environmental sustainability,” explained Geoff Renshaw, a director of Powermaster. “Technology like variable speed drives and our IWEMs system is simple to implement, easy to prove and very popular. A 70% electricity bill reduction can make the difference between a profitable pool and a loss making one.”

It probably took you about 35 seconds to read the last three paragraphs of this article. In that time global carbon emissions were equivalent to those of a small UK town or city for the entire year. So 35 seconds is a long time and you can do something useful in half a minute. You can make the decision to make your pool more energy efficient, profitable and environmentally sustainable.

Selling energy efficiency in pools and spas

Powermasters' Integrated Water
and Energy Management System (IWEMS®)

Psychologists understand very clearly that people don’t always do the things that are in their own best interests. We don’t always eat healthily for instance and we don’t all exercise frequently, because curling up on the sofa is much more comfortable. Less understandable is the evidence that, in our professional lives, we routinely choose to not reduce the energy expenditure required to run the pools and spas we design, build, manage and service. Here, Geoff Renshaw, a director of Powermaster the energy saving technology specialist for pools and spas, argues that this is unjustifiable, given that a typical swimming pool can cost around £30,000 per year to operate in energy bills alone.   

Here’s a shocking fact; it is possible to use existing and proven energy saving technology to reduce the energy consumption of a swimming pool or spa and the building that houses it by up to 82%. If you were still sitting in the couch, metaphorically speaking, when you started reading this article let’s hope you have just laced up your running shoes, because there is no bigger motivator than an 82% energy bill saving.

Before I go on, I should stress that 82% is the record energy saving that Powermaster has provided. It was achieved by combining the effects of variable speed drives, voltage optimisation, heat recovery, remote monitoring and our trademarked IWEMs (Integrated Water and Energy Management) solution in a single application.

However, energy savings of 40% are very, very common and it is far from inconceivable that we will repeat or better our 82% record in the medium term future. So why do so few companies building and installing pools and spas include energy management as part of their proposal to the building owner? This question is especially pertinent when, in the public sector, a certain degree of energy saving technology is mandatory. Furthermore, why do so few pools and spas make this very small, and often publically funded, capital expenditure commitment that will allow them to reduce their expenditure so radically?

My belief is that capital expenditure is prioritised much too highly and operating expenditure is vaguely written of as something that tomorrow’s accountants can deal with.

Let’s look at the example of a variable speed drive controlling the pump or pumps in a swimming pool or spa. The pump is driven by a motor and the entire pump and drive system will cost exponentially more to run during its lifetime than it cost to purchase. A modest addition to the purchase cost in the form of a variable speed drive, which will control the motor at either pre-set levels or in accordance with the pumps requirements, could reduce the energy bill and thus the lifetime cost of the application by a minimum of 30% in a typical swimming pool or spa application.

Perhaps the key to understanding this is recognising that the motor speed reduction and the reduction in energy use aren’t identical figures. Instead, reducing the speed of the motor by 20% will reduce the energy used by 50%. That speed reduction can be achieved by simply using variable speed drives to turn down the motors when the pool or spa isn’t being used or is being used less.

Providing variable speed drives are in place, the use of Powermaster’s IWEMs system can go on to provide even greater energy savings at relatively modest costs. At IWEM’s heart is monitoring technology that allows the variable speed drive to control the pump in accordance with the water chemistry of the pool or spa itself. This means that the motor can always run at the slowest required speed, no matter how heavily the pool or spa is being used. If variable speed drives aren’t already in place, it is perfectly achievable and entirely normal to fit them as an integral part of the IWEMs system.

Furthermore, IWEMs can be fine tuned to manage the chemical dosing of the pool or spa, which can in turn lead to further cost reductions – this time in the form of lower expenditure on the chemicals themselves.

IWEMs features a completely integrated remote monitoring system that allows the user to view the energy and chemical usage of a swimming pool or spa at the click of a button, via the Internet. So, even if you are still on the couch, you can keep up to date with the energy saving progress you are making. This function can also act as a datalogger and an alarming system, sending you an e-mail or text message if there is an urgent event that needs requires attention.

The answer to energy saving is simple, whether you are building or managing a swimming pool or spa, look at the cost of the entire facility, not just the cost of the build or the day to day capital expenditure. If you do, you will see some figures that very quickly make you get up of the couch and take action.

Former offshore electrical expert makes the switch from sea to pool

Kit Learie, Senior Electrical Technician

Powermaster has appointed Kit Learie as senior electrical technician. Learie’s knowledge of complex chemicals is set to enrich Powermaster’s mix of energy management skills for leisure centres and spas.

Learie’s previous experience includes electrical contracting for Power Supply Northwest (PSN) Ltd. During his time there, he was involved in electrical installations, audits and lighting design on offshore rigs and in domestic applications.

Powermaster’s new member of staff brings a combination of commercial, industrial and domestic know-how, which enables him to effectively contribute to Powermaster’s energy saving and chemical management strategies. Learie is certified to carry out electrical installations in complex chemical and explosive areas.

Learie will bring with him a fresh perspective on energy saving and his main responsibilities will include programming variable speed drives (VSDs) and pool management.

“It’s the small changes that have the biggest impacts on our planet,” Learie is keen to explain. “I’ve seen first-hand the negative consequences of high energy consumption on the environment as well as on our pockets. I believe VSD technology is a game changer in the electrical industry; it modularises energy efficiency, making it accessible to anyone who has the good sense to want it.”

Learie is also a music enthusiast who loves playing the guitar, song-writing and listening to indie and heavy metal bands such as Muse and Smashing Pumpkins. He also enjoys reading and playing golf.

Energy for pools specialist appoints engineer and keen environmentalist in senior technical role

Nathan Mansbridge, Senior Pool Technician

Energy for pool specialist Powermaster has appointed Nathan Mansbridge as senior pool technician, to help manage the company’s expert support team. Mansbridge plans to raise awareness of energy saving technologies in the UK pool, leisure and spa industries.

Mansbridge started his career as a swimming pool manager and, thanks to his understanding and passion for the industry, went on to win accreditation from the Technical Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers. In his new role at Powermaster he will provide expertise on chemical control, filtration and mixing systems.

Furthermore, Mansbridge will take responsibility for advising on and auditing energy management for pools, spas and leisure centres. He will also be focussed on educating pool staff and improving awareness of variable speed drives (VSDs) and integrated water and energy management systems (IWEMS).

“I hope to be a good trainer, who can inspire and build up on the level of knowledge leisure facility staff already have,” Mansbridge enthused. “My goal is to educate people and make sure they have the right tools to make competent, cost effective decisions. My job is to help them spot problems before they become really serious and then help rectify those issues. This way we ensure that health and safety is observed for everyone using the pool or spa,” he continued.

Mansbridge enjoys hiking and bushcrafting in this spare time, which allows him to be close to nature, relax and further develop his outdoor and survival skills.

VSDs in pools – much more than just HVAC

Variable Speed Drives for pool application

It’s not uncommon to hear about people fitting variable speed drives in the buildings that house swimming pools to control HVAC, elevation or solar panels. However, the unique nature of a building containing a 50 metre pool of water that needs to be constantly refreshed, presents a far more interesting challenge for the control engineer. Here, Geoff Renshaw, a director of Powermaster the energy saving technology specialist for pools and spas, explains how a typical pool can reduce its energy bill by up 82% using nothing more than clever engineering.

Before I go on, I should stress that 82% is the record energy saving that Powermaster has provided. It was achieved by combining the effects of variable speed drives, voltage optimisation, heat recovery, remote monitoring and our trademarked IWEMs (Integrated Water and Energy Management) solution in a single application. However, energy savings of 40% are very, very common and it is far from inconceivable that we will repeat or better our 82% record in the medium term future.

The key to making swimming pools more efficient is to fit drives on the motor powering the pool circulation pump itself, not just on the motors in the rest of the building. In many swimming pools the VSD is set manually to decrease the motors speed during the day by 10% and during the evening by 20%. Stepping back to control engineering basics and the ‘power cubed’ law, a speed decrease of 10% produces an average energy saving of about 27.1%. So, during the day, at 90% speed, the load only requires approximately 73% per cent of maximum power and during the evening at 80% it only requires 48%. In essence a relatively small speed change produces a large fall in the energy usage.

As an added bonus, the motor will require less maintenance, because it is no longer running constantly at full speed. This can be a big benefit in a swimming pool, where maintenance often means closure and motors are difficult to reach.

Providing variable speed drives are in place, the use of Powermaster’s IWEMs system can go on to provide even greater energy savings at relatively modest costs. At IWEM’s heart is remote monitoring technology that allows the variable speed drive to control the pump in accordance with the water chemistry of the pool or spa itself. This can be achieved by setting the inverter to control the motor in accordance with the load demand. In a swimming pool, this is calculated in relation to the amount of people in the water, which in turn determines how much chlorine is used. As a result, the chemistry of the water, which can be assessed using a feedback loop from the dosing system, can dictate the behaviour of the inverter. This means that the motor can always run at the slowest required speed, no matter how heavily the pool or spa is being used.

Furthermore, IWEMs can be fine tuned to manage the chemical dosing of the pool or spa, which can in turn lead to further cost reductions – this time in the form of lower expenditure on the chemicals themselves. In effect you are using a simple VSD and some clever stand alone monitoring technology to manage the dosing of the pool.

Furthermore, IWEMs features a completely integrated remote monitoring system that allows the user to view the energy and chemical usage of a swimming pool or spa at the click of a button, via the Internet. This function can also act as a datalogger and an alarming system, sending you an e-mail or text message if there is an urgent event that needs requires attention.

VSDs in pools – explaining the rarity factor
So why do so few companies building and installing pools and spas include variable speed drives as part of their proposal to the building owner? This question is especially pertinent when, in the public sector, a certain degree of energy saving technology is mandatory. Furthermore, why do so few pools and spas make this very small, and often publically funded, capital commitment that will allow them to reduce their expenditure so radically?

My belief is that capital expenditure is prioritised much too highly and operating expenditure is vaguely written off as something that tomorrow’s accountants can deal with.

Let’s look at the example of a variable speed drive controlling the pump or pumps in a swimming pool or spa. The pump is driven by a motor and the entire pump and drive system will cost exponentially more to run during its lifetime than it costs to purchase. A modest addition to the system cost in the form of a variable speed drive, which will control the motor at either pre-set levels or in accordance with the pumps requirements, could reduce the energy bill and thus the lifetime cost of the application by a minimum of 30% in a typical swimming pool or spa application.

As well as finance questions, there is also a cultural and historical issue at play. We have to bear in mind that the swimming pool industry in England is only really 70 years old, having come to fruition in the 1950s. Prior to that, the majority of the pools in the country were the beautiful Victorian structures that campaigners are currently working so hard to save up and down the UK.

The height of technology in older pools was using a massive fan at either end to create water movement and it was felt that the more dynamism in the water the better. The idea that low filtration can actually be the best filtration is relatively new. As a result, using variable speed drives to actually decrease the amount of energy spent on water handling is quite revolutionary in this sector.

Energy saving in Birmingham - two examples in practice
Opened in 1970, Wyndley Leisure Centre is the largest leisure facility of its kind in Birmingham. It boasts a main 25m heated deep water pool for swimming and diving and a separate shallow teaching pool. It also has a 400 metre athletics track, six squash courts, five badminton courts, a gym, an all weather pitch, a children’s playroom and a studio cycling room.

Powermaster’s variable speed drive installation cost only £10,671, including the price of a five year warranty, and saves £3,527 per year, resulting in a payback period of 2.7 years.

Another Birmingham based leisure centre, the Northfield Pool and Fitness Centre has recently undergone a massive refurbishment process. The £3m project included a larger gym, a refitted dance studio and a new sauna and steam suite. Both of the centre’s pools were refitted and the reception area was redesigned. Our part in the project cost just over six thousand pounds and produced a bill reduction of £2,119 per year, resulting in a payback period of just over three years. 

So, next time you read about variable speed drives being installed on a HVAC system in a leisure centre or swimming pool, don’t sit back and chalk up another point for energy saving. In fact, you are reading about a missed opportunity because the motors in the pool itself haven’t been addressed.

Energy for pools specialist Powermaster offers a solution to Redditch Borough Council’s plan to cut costs by using crematorium heat

Typical spa application

Earlier this year, Redditch Borough Council announced plans to recycle waste heat from the town crematorium, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The local authority maintains that this would be an environmentally efficient use of energy that could save £14,000 a year at its Abbey Stadium facility. However, the plans were described as “sick and an insult to local residents" by UNISON. Geoff Renshaw of energy saving technology expert Powermaster argues that Redditch Borough Council’s decision to use excess heat from a crematorium to warm a swimming pool is environmentally laudable but needlessly controversial. Here he presents the alternative energy saving methods that could have calmed the public debate.

There are a number of effective methods for reducing the energy-spend and carbon emissions in leisure centres, swimming pools and spas, which could shrink the costs even more than re-using crematorium heat. For example, variable speed drives can be used to control water pumps, while voltage optimisers can reduce electricity costs and internal heat recovery can decrease heating expenditure.
For instance, in the case of heat recovery, some parts of a leisure centre or sports facility are not only heated, but accumulate heat that can be re-used elsewhere as part of the process in the room. Good examples are excess heat from a heating system, the bodies in a gym or process based heat from a kitchen. Rather than wasting this by expelling it from the building, there are various ways in which one can recycle and re-use the thermal energy, by redirecting it into cooler areas of the building. This excess heat can also be used to directly maintain water temperature at 30 degrees Celsius in the pool. As a result, the integral heating system can often be turned off, coming into play only when the heat recovery system requires support. As well as leading to significant cost savings, this kind of heat recovery also reduces the build-up of condensation, a perennial problem in leisure facilities.

Furthermore, Powermaster’s Integrated Water & Energy Management System (also referred to as IWEMS) can help reduce electricity consumption and the associated chemicals costs in a swimming pool or spa by up to 70%. IWEMS also provides Web based remote monitoring for optimal tuning of system parameters and accurate reporting of performance, energy saving and fault detection.

IWEMS is the first system that is able to automatically regulate pump speeds in accordance with chlorine use. This also maintains the free chlorine level in relation with the bathing load. Using the system, the motor speed in pumps and air handling units is controlled via VSDs and as a result, IWEMS can make real time adjustments to maximise energy efficiency.

Furthermore, the circulation of water using filtration pumps is crucial for safe and efficient pool water management. As a result, IWEMS also monitors a variety of functions including injecting and mixing water treatment chemicals, such as chlorine and pH correctants. This saves both electricity and chemical costs because chemical dosing and control is linked directly to pump speed. Furthermore, by monitoring the running time and temperature of the motors, IWEMS allows the pool manager to increase the time between services, reducing maintenance costs.

A VSD installation in a swimming pool will reduce energy bills by 30%. The addition of an IWEMS system can further reduce expenditure by 30% on average. The record energy reduction on a Powermaster installation is 82% overall!

In conclusion, although energy saving strategies should always be at the forefront of companies’ plans, controversial methods can be avoided. After all, cutting electricity costs should attract the public’s support, not outrage.

Energy for pools specialist Powermaster comments on Redditch Borough Council’s plan to cut costs by using crematorium heat

Geoff Renshaw, Director, Powermaster

Energy saving technology expert Powermaster believes that Redditch Borough Council’s decision to use excess heat from a crematorium to warm a swimming pool is environmentally laudable but needlessly controversial. Powermaster argues that the public debate could have been avoided by using alternative energy saving methods.

In February Redditch Borough Council announced plans to recycle waste heat from the town crematorium, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The local authority maintains that this would be an environmentally efficient use of energy that could save £14,000 a year at its Abbey Stadium facility. However, officials from Unison called the plans “sick and an insult to local residents", spearheading the public outcry against the idea.

Powermaster’s belief is that similar energy savings could be made using less controversial methods, in place of or alongside the existing plans. Geoff Renshaw a director of the company explains, “Reducing energy costs by diverting surplus heat to colder areas of buildings can easily be achieved using less controversial means. There are also a number of other effective methods for reducing energy spend and carbon emissions in leisure centres and pools, which could reduce the costs even more than re-using crematorium heat. For example, variable speed drives can be used to control water pumps, voltage optimisers can reduce electricity costs and internal heat recovery can decrease heating expenditure,” he continued. 

“Some parts of a leisure centre or sports facility are not only heated, but accumulate heat that can be re-used elsewhere as part of the process in the room. Good examples are excess heat from a heating system or the bodies in a gym or process based heat from a kitchen. Rather than wasting this by expelling it from the building, there are various ways in which one can recycle and re-use the thermal energy, by redirecting it into cooler areas of the building. As well as leading to significant cost savings, this kind of heat recovery also reduces the build-up of condensation, a perennial problem in leisure facilities,” added Renshaw.

Voltage optimisers enable 10-15% energy savings for commercial buildings

Voltage Optimisation Technology

Energy saving technology expert Powermaster has released a range of PowaSava voltage optimisers that reduce electricity consumption and the associated costs by up to 10-15%. The technology also protects a commercial buildings’ electrical energy infrastructure and can reduce carbon emissions across the building by 10-15%.

By controlling the voltage from the main supply, the PowaSava voltage optimiser ensures that the application uses only the required amount of electricity, minimising bills. The device reduces energy bills, without any noticeable difference to electrical functions, by balancing three phase supply and optimising the mains voltage. Depending on incoming voltage it can reduce costs by optimising and improving the source, which can be reduced incrementally by ±15V on the set point.

In Northern Ireland and Scotland, Powermaster’s IWEMS® range is listed in the Carbon Trust Loan Scheme. As a result, when taking part in the scheme, organisations can benefit from 0% business loans of £3,000 - £100,000 to cover the purchase cost. It’s quite common for the energy savings alone to cover the capital cost of the equipment during the course of the loan. From April 11, 2011 the equivalent scheme in the United Kingdom will be managed by the Carbon Trust and Siemens Financial Services.

“UK Plc has been trying to improve its electrical energy infrastructure to save money and preserve the environment for some time,” explained Geoff Ranshaw, a director of Powermaster. “Our voltage optimisers are proven to increase the lifecycle of electrical equipment and reduce maintenance costs. They also help protect electrical equipment from transients, such as surges and spikes. In addition, they are suitable for operating in severe temperatures, humidity, vibration and dirty environments and can respond immediately to input and output change.”

Moreover, the system also helps lower maintenance costs on motors, lighting equipment and other electrical devices by suppressing potentially damaging harmonics. It also reduces the operating temperature on electrical equipment, further extending its lifespan and reducing the need for maintenance.