(Photo credit: BAM Construction)
As Dover District Leisure Centre prepares to mark the first anniversary of its opening, it’s also celebrating being ranked Kent’s best leisure centre for energy efficiency, carbon footprint and energy consumption, according to the latest energy ratings data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
Dover District Leisure Centre is the only one of Kent’s 31 leisure centres to hold an ‘A’ rating on its Energy Certificate, the highest rating for a building’s performance based on energy use and carbon emissions.
With climate change one of the biggest challenges we face this century, the Dover District Leisure Centre was carefully designed with a wide range of energy saving and sustainability initiatives. Built to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standards, the building’s features include:
- A highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) plant producing heat and hot water for the site as a by-product of electricity generation
- 70 solar panels on the roof producing 27.22 MWh of electricity since opening, and saving 69,567kg of CO2 emissions
- 120 trees have been planted on the site to date
- The first Dover District Council car park with charging points for electric vehicles
- Recycling bins in all areas and digital displays to reduce paper usage
- Comprehensive travel plan to promote sustainable travel
- Facilities to promote cycling, including a cycle shelter and repair station.
Get on board with a month’s free bus travel
A key part of Dover District Leisure Centre’s sustainable travel plan is to promote public transport. In conjunction with Stagecoach, Dover District Council is offering local residents a free month’s mega-rider ticket* if they travel to the leisure centre by bus. More details are available at www.dover.gov.uk/travel
Detailed planning is also underway on the Dover Fastrack, a dedicated bus route from Whitfield to Dover, which will further improve public transport links to the leisure centre.
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, the Leader of Dover District Council said: “Dover District Leisure Centre’s outstanding energy efficiency is helping our local environment and is a positive sign of how we’re building for the future in response to the climate change emergency."
Tony Crafer, Contract Manager for operators, Places Leisure, said: “We’re delighted with the news that the Dover District Leisure Centre is having a positive effect not just on the health of local people, but also on the planet!”
Note to editors: Dover District Council declared a climate change emergency in January 2020 and is developing a strategy and action plan for the Council to be carbon neutral by 2030, and the Dover district by 2050. For more information, visit www.dover.gov.uk/climate
*Terms and conditions apply
Posted on 30 January 2020