Following a recent report highlighting the rise of the health and fitness market, Andrews Water Heaters has emphasised the importance of having an efficient hot water system.

According to a report by Mintel, one in eight (12 percent) of Brits now use health and fitness clubs, with the overall value of the market forecast to surpass £3 billion by 2018.

Users are getting their money’s worth, too, with more than half (52 percent) visiting a club at least three times per week. Those who go swimming are also more likely to use wellness facilities (51 percent) or consume food and drink in the restaurant (35 percent).  

In major cities, cycling to work has also seen considerable growth. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of people living in London who cycled to work more than doubled from 77,000 to 155,000.

These findings indicate that exercise is becoming a key part of modern British life. Andrews Water Heaters believes this will have far-reaching implications for the provision of hot water in a number of sectors, with, for example, showering facilities becoming commonplace in most offices.

Sales director Chris Meir is confident that the market is well-equipped to cater for this demand. He commented: “We already know from our customers that more people are using fitness facilities and we have seen an increase in the number of gyms opening across the UK over the past few years. There has also been a rise in the number of requests from business owners who wish to provide on-site showers for those who choose to cycle to work, or take a lunchtime gym class.

“The move towards a more active society is a wholly positive one. Healthy and fit employees tend to be more productive and have fewer sick days, so there is a compelling commercial argument for encouraging an active lifestyle. However, using more hot water can have an impact on a business’s bottom line if the heating system is incorrectly specified.

“Installing a higher output boiler would help to accommodate greater demand for hot water, but without additional space heating requirements, the boiler may be oversized for the overall system. This results in energy wastage, as the level of insulation in modern buildings means less heat is lost, so central heating can run at lower temperatures for a shorter time.

“One solution is to install a separate, dedicated water heater to cater to the hot water demand, without wasting excess energy on heating. Separate space heating and hot water systems generally provide lower running costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions. This is because the hot water energy load can be more suitably matched to the water heater output. On top of this, since water is heated from a low mains temperature (at a supply temperature of around 10 to 60 degrees Celsius), high levels of condensing can be achieved, contributing to further savings. The heating system can also be switched off during summer to reduce the electrical consumption from boilers, primary pumps and secondary pumps.

“Becoming a healthier, fitter nation will require businesses to have a hot water system that is fit for purpose. Greater hot water delivery and energy efficiency may seem like contradictory concepts, but with a correctly sized and specified system, they are both achievable.”