KEEPING POOL HEATING COSTS UNDER CONTROL WITHOUT COMPROMISING GUEST COMFORT

Why intelligent heat pump technology is helping holiday parks reduce energy costs while maintaining perfect swimming conditions…

For holiday parks, caravan parks, camping and glamping sites, the swimming pool is often one of the biggest attractions—and one of the largest consumers of energy. Rising utility costs and increasing environmental expectations mean operators are looking for smarter ways to heat their pools without sacrificing guest experience. We spoke to Julien Galot, Head of Sales at Poolstar Group, about how modern heat pump technology is helping leisure businesses improve efficiency while keeping pools at the perfect temperature.

What are the biggest challenges holiday parks face when it comes to pool heating?
Julien Galot: The biggest challenge is balancing guest comfort with operating costs. Guests expect a consistently warm, inviting pool throughout the season, but owners also need to keep energy bills under control. Today’s heat pump technology makes that possible by automatically adjusting output to match demand, ensuring energy is only used when it’s needed.

How does the Megaline Fi differ from a standard pool heat pump?
The Megaline Fi has been designed specifically for larger commercial pools where reliability and efficiency are essential. Its Full Inverter technology, combined with Mitsubishi dual rotary compressors, depending on the pool’s heating requirements. Rather than operating at full power all the time, it works more intelligently, reducing electricity consumption while maintaining stable water temperatures. The unit also features a robust stainless-steel construction with a galvanised steel casing, making it well suited to demanding commercial environments.

How important is remote monitoring for holiday parks?
Increasingly important. Park managers are responsible for multiple facilities, so being able to monitor pool heating remotely saves both time and money. The Megaline Fi includes a large touchscreen interface for on-site control and can also be managed remotely using the Poolex app. Through Poolex Cloud, operators can monitor performance, adjust settings, identify potential issues before they become problems and optimise efficiency throughout the season.

Is installation disruptive?
Careful planning is always the key. Every holiday park is different, so installations are designed around existing plant rooms and operating schedules to minimise disruption. With good preparation, equipment can often be installed with very little impact on guests or day-to-day operations.

Beyond lower energy bills, what benefits can operators expect?
Energy savings are usually the first thing customers notice, but there are wider benefits too. More consistent pool temperatures improve the guest experience, while intelligent controls reduce maintenance demands and help maximise the lifespan of the equipment. For holiday parks looking to invest in long-term sustainability, lower energy consumption also contributes towards reducing their overall carbon footprint.

Is this technology suitable for all types of parks?
Absolutely. Whether it’s a holiday park, caravan park, camping or glamping site, any business operating a commercial swimming pool can benefit from modern inverter heat pump technology. The important thing is selecting equipment that’s correctly sized for the pool and understanding the total cost of ownership, rather than focusing solely on the initial purchase price.

Looking ahead, where do you see the market going?
We’re seeing operators place far greater emphasis on energy efficiency and smarter facility management. Connected equipment that can be monitored remotely, optimised automatically and integrated into wider energy management strategies is becoming the new standard. For holiday parks, investing in efficient heating technology is no longer simply about reducing costs—it’s about future-proofing the business while delivering the level of comfort today’s guests expect.

For more information please visit www.poolstar.fr/en or www. automatedenvironmentalsystems.co.uk

Energy-Efficient Era For Hot Tub Heating

hot tub

The compact heat exchanger is hidden behind the skin of the hot tub, so is neither visible nor affects the design.

Energy-Efficient Era For Hot Tub Heating

Bowman heat exchangers are helping a luxury golf and leisure resort save thousands of pounds a year on its energy bills while maximising the potential of its sustainable heating system.

The Bowman units are part of a new and innovative heating system for hot tubs, which uses a biomass boiler and heat exchangers instead of conventional electric heating. The system has been installed at the KP Club, a prestigious leisure destination which is set in 180 acres of the Yorkshire Wolds. The club recently opened 24 new luxury woodland lodges which offer guests privacy combined with the facilities of a boutique hotel.

The lodges each have their own hot tub, supplied by Bristol based, Urban Cedar, who are specialists in the design, build and installation of contemporary cedar wood hot tubs. The energy savings of the combined biomass boiler/heat exchanger system are nothing short of remarkable.

“On average, using conventional electric heaters, each hot tub would use around £500 annually in electricity. However, by using the existing heat source of the biomass boiler system, the hot tubs are now heated at no extra cost – saving the KP Club approximately £12,000 a year,” says Antony Perry, managing director of Urban Cedar.

The KP Club approached Urban Cedar when the resort was looking at a greener way of heating the hot tubs. “Having heard that heat exchangers are a highly efficient solution, the club asked us to contact Bowman first, because of its reputation as the best in the industry. Bowman introduced us to GVS, one of their UK distributors, who advised us on the best unit for the application” says Antony.

Urban Cedar fitted the hot tubs with the Bowman units which was simple as just standard plumbing components are required. The compact heat exchanger is hidden behind the skin of the hot tub, so is neither visible nor affects the design.

An added benefit of the new system is the much faster heat up times. Traditionally, electric heaters would raise the water temperature in the tubs by 1-2°C an hour, taking up to 24 hours to heat a tub from cold. The Bowman heat exchangers raise the water temperature by 12°C an hour – so the tub reaches temperature within just two to three hours, giving greater flexibility between changeovers and ensuring the tubs are immediately ready when new guests arrive.

Bowman
Tel. +44 (0)121 359 5401
info@ejbowman.co.uk
www.ejbowman.co.uk