- Completion of ground and solar energy heated swimming pools in Kalgoorlie
Each year, ground source heat pumps to save same amount of gas used by 383 WA homes
Almost $534,000 invested by State Government in the energy saving project
Environment Minister Albert Jacob has marked the successful completion of Kalgoorlie's energy efficient swimming pools project and unveiled a screen that provides a live feed of the cost and energy savings.
Mr Jacob said two swimming pools at the Goldfields Oasis recreation centre had been heated using a combination of solar energy and ground source heat pumps.
"The benefits of this energy efficient heating is significant, with 8,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide expected to be saved over the life of the project, which is equivalent to growing 50,000 Australian native trees," he said.
"The ground source heat pumps alone will reduce the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's gas consumption by about 4,000 gigajoules of gas each year, equivalent to the gas that 383 West Australian homes use each year. It will also result in savings of approximately $83,000 each year."
The State Government provided $533,790 for the project through the Low Emissions Energy Development fund which supports the development of new, low emission technologies.
Energy Minister Mike Nahan said the project was part of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder's initiative to replace most of the recreation centre's gas consumption with low emissions and renewable energy.
"By reducing gas consumption, this project will free up capacity for other users of the Goldfields gas pipeline," he said.
"WA has abundant renewable energy resources and the technologies to utilise these are now maturing."
Dr Nahan said the energy efficient ground source heat pumps drew heat from below the ground and formed the third component of the project, after the installation last year of solar thermal and photovoltaic panels.
Mr Jacob said the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder had led the way and similar technologies were being implemented at other WA community pools.
"The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is to be congratulated on the implementation of this low emissions energy program," he said.
"I encourage the city to share its experiences with other pool operators to help them to achieve similar benefits for the environment and savings."
Fact File
Project has also received $622,725 in Federal Government funding
Solar thermal panel aspect of the project alone has saved enough gas to supply 422 WA households
Screen showing the cost and energy savings of the heat pump has been installed at the recreation centre
Environment Minister's office - 6552 5800
Energy Minister's office - 6552 5700
