Energy savings at the Lido in Clifton have reached £100,000 since it installed an award-winning solar-powered thermal water heating system.
The historic Lido was reopened in 2008 following a £2.5m investment by Bristol-based restaurateur Arne Ringner with a clear commitment to sustainability.
As part of the eco-friendly project, it fitted a £50,000 solar thermal heating system by Backwell-based solar energy specialists Solarsense which includes 80 sq m of solar thermal evacuated tubes on the roof that capture the sun’s energy. This is then used to heat water for the 24m swimming pool, hot tub and showers, as well as heating the building itself.
Mr Ringner said: “Without solar power our annual fuel bill would be around £90,000 but we are saving around a third of that by using solar thermal. We have now generated energy savings of £100,000 since the Lido opened.”
The Lido solar project won Best Renewable Energy Scheme at the 2009 Regen SW Green Energy Awards.
Solarsense managing director Stephen Barrett said: “The Lido is an almost perfect customer for a solar thermal system. The installation at Clifton, with 800 Thermomax vacuum tubes, is one of the largest in the UK.”
Solarsense has installed more than 5,000 solar systems in the South West since it was formed in 1994, including the UK’s largest privately-owned rooftop PV system at time of installation at Worthy Farm, home to the annual Glastonbury Festival. Recent installations include the Tobacco Factory arts centre in Bedminster and the new National Composite Centre on the Science Park at Emersons Green.
The dilapidated 1850s Lido had lain unused since 1990 and was almost demolished before Mr Ringner successfully secured Grade II-listed status with a last-minute application.
Its restaurant kitchen uses a wood-fired oven and in the basement a super-efficient combined heat-and-electricity unit generates power. There is no car park, to encourage cycling and cut down on congestion in the crowded Clifton area, and a section of road has been closed to provide bike parking.
Pictured: Arne Ringner and Stephen Barrett
