Sunbather helps AIS pools reduce their carbon footprint

With its previous solar pool heating system having given the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) 28 years of service, Sunbather Pool Technologies have recently replaced and upgraded the AIS' solar pool heating system to heat both the 50 metre and 25 metre pools.

Installed in 1983, the AIS Sunbather system's unglazed solar panel has offered superior cost benefits in solar pool heating.

Over 35 years, the original 585 metre2 system, catered for 50% of the 50 metre pool surface area. This has now been replaced with an impressive state-of-the-art 1,560 metre2 now catering for both of the AIS' 50 metre and 25 metre pools.

The installation was carried out by the Sunbather NSW team, managed by NSW Manager Merv Smith - who has over 22 years experience in the Solar Pool Heating Industry.

As Hughes explains "the installation was not without challenge with the facility's multi-tiered roofs and approximately 5,000 metres of pipe work.

"(However), the end result is the movement of 3.4 tonnes of water per minute through the system (which) integrates with the existing AIS building management system."

Sunbather worked out the optimal collector area for this project using a swimming pool specific thermal analysis program developed by the University of NSW. It utilises a climatic data file for Canberra and performs an hour-by-hour thermal simulation of the pools' heat losses and heat inputs from gas and solar.

Using this program Sunbather are able to predict and size the most economical and efficient system for each project thus reducing the facility's carbon footprint and providing significant running cost savings.

For more information click here to view Sunbather Pty Ltd's entry and contact details in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Image of Australian Institute of Sport pool courtesy of ACOR Consultants.

20th April 2011 - SUNBATHER COMPLETES ‘TURNKEY’ COMMERCIAL SOLAR POOL HEATING INSTALLATION