With the dangers of Climate Change looming large, The Llanfendigaid Estate has the ambitious aim of moving totally away from fossil fuels (oil and gas) for heating as well as switching to on-site renewable electricity supply. The Estate (which includes a 9-bedroom grade 2* listed building) will ultimately be self-sufficient from an electricity and heating point of view within the next 2 years.

This includes all 8 holiday rental properties and the indoor swimming pool which previously heated by an oil burner. A huge underground heat pump investment has been made to heat the whole Estate including the pool. This ground source heating system is carbon neutral, renewable, reliable, has low maintenance costs. The heat pump system is now also complimented by 264 PV panels (108kWp system) that are ground mounted and that will generate on-site, clean, renewable electricity. The ground source heat pumps work by capturing thermal energy from the ground and this then used to heat the water for the pool. Solar energy captured by the PV panels generates electricity to support the heat pump system. This switch has immediately lowered the carbon footprint of the Estate. By pairing the two new renewable systems together, the seasonal coefficient of performance rating improves, the Estate is self-sufficient, operating costs are reduced and ongoing maintenance levels are low. The brief for Cheshire Pool Services was to construct a new thermally efficient pool and to ensure that it connected to the new incoming renewable energy supplies (via a new plant room). This included the provision and installation of a bespoke, deluxe reinforced

Extra insulation to the pool and building were introduced, ceiling heights lowered which acted as concealment for the ducted AHU system installed. Upgrading single to double glazed units within the building was also completed. Battling with groundwater, the pool depth was reduced to overcome the battle with running groundwater. Not only to aid construction and insulation, but also to reduce heat loss via the groundwater coming into contact with the pool shell and on-site lining. All components were upgraded and changed through the installation to bring the building back to life, energy efficient and loved for years to come! The luxury of offering a deluxe, high specification, indoor heated pool to guests looking to stay in low carbon holiday rental properties has now been successfully achieved.

Cheshire Pool Services