ASSIVHAUS | ST SIDWELLS POINT Testing the water The UKs first Passivhaus swimming pool, currently being developed by Exeter City Council, seeks to halve energy use and create a chemical-free, healthy environment. Andy Pearson speaks to project team members about the innovative design that aims to set new Passivhaus standards for pools E xeters new 35m Passivhaus swimming pool and leisure centre complex is predicted to save the city council about 200,000 a year in energy costs compared with a conventionally constructed design. The savings mean it will take fewer than 10 years to pay back the increased construction costs of building the scheme to Passivhaus quality standards. Emma Osmundsen, managing director of Exeter City Living, the development arm of the council, says: It was a case of why wouldnt you build to Passivhaus standards, rather than why would you. St Sidwells Point leisure centre, which is currently under construction, houses three swimming pools a 25m competition pool, a 20m community pool, and a childrens play pool a spa, gym and studio, and a cafe. In addition to being the s rst Passivhaus pool complex, the scheme has been designed to be climate resilient up to 2080 and to be a healthy building, and it will be the rst pool in the to comply with the German water treatment standard DIN19643. It is an ambitious set of rsts for a public authority-funded leisure centre, but the rationale for each is based on a sound Exeters new Passivhaus swimming pool and leisure centre business case. According to Osmundsen, the schemes utility costs are predicted to be around 20 per m2 per year, which compares favourably with the typical utility costs for a conventional leisure centre of 57 per m2 per year. The energy savings will pay for capital uplift in construction costs; the enhanced internal environment should attract more customers and strengthen revenue potential the high specication nishes will reduce life-cycle costs and climateproong the design mitigates against future retrot requirements and running costs, Osmundsen explains. The councils decision to build the s rst Passivhaus swimming pool and leisure complex is less of a surprise when you consider that it has been developing schemes to Passivhaus standard for a decade. It started with a housebuilding programme, then launched a housing development company and, more recently, developed a supported-care housing scheme using the methodology. The concept of a Passivhaus swimming pool is not without precedent: two such pools have been built in Germany. Despite the lack of a UK example, Osmundsen appears unfazed by the councils pioneering ambitions. Weve come to understand, respect and see the benets of Passivhaus in terms of build quality, performance and indoor air quality with our housing programme, so we were not particularly daunted in considering it for a leisure centre, she says. To meet the energy target, the design team took a holistic approach to the buildings design, which included orientating the pool hall glazing to face south 6 October 2019 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Oct19 pp06-09 Passivhaus pool Supp.indd 6 20/09/2019 13:47