The council secured the funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), delivered by Salix.

The project will see old gas-powered boilers replaced with air source heat pumps, the installation of solar panels helping offset 25 per cent of the centre’s energy, which is already sourced from renewable energy.

Cavity wall insulation has been installed around the building, as has new energy efficient LED lighting. This further investment will result in a 100 per cent decrease in carbon emissions as the centre will become carbon neutral upon completion of the works. The council will continue to investigate other opportunities to further reduce energy consumption at the facility.

The 340T carbon saving is equivalent to not having to heat 126 family homes in the district every year.

“This is a real statement project that I hope makes headlines across the UK to empower other leisure centres to follow suit in decarbonising their centres,” said Cllr Alan Powell, North East Derbyshire District Council cabinet member for leisure.

“Climate Change and saving money and energy are the core values for our residents and us as an authority and this project will see us making incredible efforts to ensure the safe and green future of the facility for our residents for the long term future This is just one of our ongoing projects where we have already reduced carbon emissions at Eckington Pool by 66 per cent.”