Service Charge & Energy Costs – Swimming Pools, Vitality Pools & Spa (December 2025)
Energy costs remain a critical issue for residential developments across the UK as we move into winter 2025. While wholesale gas and electricity prices have stabilised compared with the extreme volatility of 2022–2023, they continue to sit well above pre-pandemic levels. Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, constrained grid capacity, and the cost of transitioning to low-carbon energy systems mean that energy remains a major contributor to service charge pressure.
For residential buildings with wellness amenities, these pressures are felt particularly acutely. Swimming pools, vitality pools, and spa facilities are among the most energy-intensive spaces within a development. Even modest inefficiencies can translate into significant annual costs for residents.
Educated Body manages health, wellbeing and fitness amenities for multiple residential clients across the UK. The majority of these developments include swimming pools, vitality pools, saunas and steam cabins. Despite improved energy awareness and better building performance than in previous years, operating costs for these facilities remain high, making efficiency and intelligent operation essential.
To support our clients, we continue to review energy use across our amenities and identify practical measures that reduce consumption without compromising resident experience. As before, the most effective starting point is the highest energy user: the swimming pool.
A comfortable water temperature for a residential swimming pool remains 29°C, with the pool hall air temperature set one degree higher at 30°C. Across our managed portfolio, we still see unnecessary variation, with some pools operating at 30–31°C. Standardising temperatures at the lower end of the comfort range can deliver immediate and measurable savings.
For vitality pools and spa pools, 35°C continues to be the optimal balance between comfort and efficiency. Increasing temperatures to 37–38°C significantly increases energy demand while providing minimal additional benefit for residents.
When pools are not in use, pool covers remain one of the most effective energy-saving measures available. Heat loss through evaporation is substantial, particularly overnight. While covers are sometimes resisted due to perceived impact on luxury aesthetics, discreet and automated solutions are increasingly available.
In a well-insulated building, a pool cover can save approximately 525 kWh per square metre per year. For a typical residential pool measuring 17m x 5m, this can equate to energy cost savings of £8,000–£10,000 per annum, depending on tariff structure.
For developments in design or refurbishment stages, energy efficiency should be considered from the outset. Although higher-efficiency systems often require greater capital investment, the payback period is typically short.
As we move through 2025, energy efficiency is no longer simply a cost-saving exercise—it is an essential component of responsible residential asset management. Small, straightforward operational adjustments, combined with informed investment in efficient plant and controls, can deliver substantial savings.
By reducing unnecessary energy consumption in wellness amenities, operators can significantly ease pressure on service charge budgets while maintaining high-quality facilities for residents