Over 520 Variable Speed Drives installed across 90+ David Lloyd clubs to reduce energy use and CO2
David Lloyd Leisure was facing widespread energy inefficiencies across its estate of over 90 health clubs in the UK and Europe. Pumps and fans were running at full speed around the clock, leading to unnecessary energy costs and excessive CO₂ emissions.
After free trials and extensive surveys, Digicon identified that many of the sites used single-speed starters without any real-time demand control. This resulted in fans and pumps working harder than needed – burning through both electricity and operational budgets.
To tackle this, Digicon recommended installing Danfoss FC102 Variable Speed Drives fitted with timers, CO₂ sensors, day/night clocks, and humidity controls. These upgrades enabled the motor speeds to adjust based on real-time conditions, saving power when full capacity wasn’t needed.
Because power usage is proportional to the cube of motor speed, even small adjustments led to significant savings. The outcome? Lower costs, lower emissions, and a smarter, greener operation.
Across the David Lloyd Leisure estate, over 520 drives were installed, transforming energy usage patterns club by club. The changes helped the group meet its target of a 20% CSR reduction from baseline between 2010 and 2014.
This translated into annual savings of £400,000+ and more than 2,400 tonnes of CO₂ cut per year.
Our drive specialists help leisure and commercial buildings save thousands every year through smart upgrades and retrofits.
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We’ve worked with leading leisure operators to cut waste, save money and meet CSR goals – here’s what you need to know.
We used Danfoss FC102 Variable Speed Drives, combined with sensors and timers for demand-based control of pumps and fans.
In this case, we helped David Lloyd save over £400,000 annually and cut 2,400+ tonnes of CO2 emissions across their sites.
Standard starters run equipment at full speed regardless of demand. VSDs adjust speed to match actual needs, saving energy.
Yes, our solution can be retrofitted to existing systems – many David Lloyd sites were upgraded without replacing the full infrastructure.
We run free site surveys and pilot trials to understand your exact usage, then tailor a drive solution to maximise ROI.