PWA Bath Foundation is the seventh party with which Energiek Alphen has entered into a social partnership; six football clubs in the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn preceded the swimming pool. “We felt we should not be missing from that list, given all our efforts together with the municipality to make our swimming pool more sustainable,” says chairman Jorrit Wulffers of the PWA Bath Foundation. According to a comprehensive sustainability programme, in the past two years installations have been modernised and the electricity connection has been upgraded. Solar panels and heat pumps have been installed. “As a result, we are now off gas. The swimming water is heated completely sustainably,” Wulffers proudly reports.

Collaboration

He calls the social partnership with Energiek Alphen an almost logical continuation of the bond that has developed between the two organisations in recent years. In 2024, Zon op Alphen (an initiative of Energiek Alphen) donated a contribution to the PWA Bad for the purchase of cover mats, which reduce the cooling of the swimming water at night. Since the beginning of this year, the PWA Bath has had a so-called Self-supply+ contract with Zon op Alphen|.to. Some of the power generated by Zon op Alphen with the Rijnvicus solar farm goes directly to the Koudekerk swimming pool.

Wulffers: “For heating the swimming water, we now primarily use the electricity we generate with our own panels. If there is a shortage - on a rainy day, for example - we use the self-supply contract. This assures us of sustainable, locally generated power - at a favourable rate. This is important for us, as it allows us to keep the entrance fees low.” The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn owns the swimming pool; the PWA Bad Foundation has been operating it with volunteers for more than 30 years.

Campaign

In the list of social partners (six football clubs so far), the PWA Bad could not be missing, according to the board of Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn. With these partners, Energiek Alphen is running the ‘Score a free energy advice’ campaign. Billboards hang on their accommodations and also through their website and/or social media channels, the associations inform their members about the possibility of requesting an energy consultation. De Ruijter: “One of our energy coaches then visits them at home to discuss which measures are possible to save on energy costs. They receive a report. The advice is completely non-binding, although of course we wish the residents would actually get started.”

“Whether you are a property owner or tenant, small measures can quickly bring your energy bills down considerably,” says De Ruijter. “Think, for example, of draught strips or fitting LED lighting, radiator foil or a water-saving shower head. Our advice can also include ventilation and insulation measures for the roof, walls or floor, including the possibilities of applying for subsidies or favourable financing. Even when making offers and taking insulation measures, our coaches will be happy to help you.”

For each consultation request, the partner organisation receives a contribution of €5. The applicant himself receives an energy-saving gift during the Energy Coach's visit. Every resident of the municipality can request a no-obligation energy consultation via the Energiek Alphen aan den Rijn website, www.energiekalphenaandenrijn.nl.