The good news actually comes at just the right time: Under the Rebstockbad there is warmth that can be used to preheat the bathing water.

The geothermal test drillings that the Hessian State Energy Agency has carried out in recent months promise significant energy savings.

"We can probably expect the water to be preheated by one and a half to two degrees, which will save us a lot of energy," says Boris Zielinski, Managing Director of Bäderbetriebe Frankfurt.

Oliver Bock

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Rheingau-Taunus district and for Wiesbaden.

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Florentine Fritzen

Correspondent in the Hochtaunus district

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Luise Glaser-Lotz

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Main-Kinzig district.

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Daniel Meuren

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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It's just stupid that the new Rebstockbad has yet to be built and the heat from a depth of more than 100 meters can only be used from 2025 at the earliest.

Because now would be the right time to develop this sustainable and innovative source of energy, especially in the area around swimming pools.

The industry association Deutsche Gesellschaft für das Badewesen fears that the war in Ukraine will have serious consequences.

In a position paper, he outlines a supply scenario in which energy consumption could be regulated to such an extent that players who are not systemically important would simply be sent into a “lockdown” in favor of industry.

"It must be assumed that either energy is almost not available at all or that massive savings will have to be made over the course of this year so that the energy reserves will be sufficient in the coming winter so that there is enough energy available at least for the critical infrastructure and important commercial enterprises ", writes the association, which represents around 1,500 players from the pool sector.

Frankfurt wants to keep temperatures

The pools should therefore already be saving energy so that they can refer to these savings in an emergency.

The association sees potential savings of up to 25 percent if the water and air temperature in indoor swimming pools were reduced by two degrees.

The calculations at the Frankfurt baths are not quite as optimistic.

Zielinski speaks of a good five percent and makes it clear that the water temperatures should remain stable in the indoor pools in his city - and that it will probably remain pleasant in the outdoor pools after the opening of the outdoor pool season in the Hausen district planned for next Saturday.

“We want to keep the swimming pools at 27 to 28 degrees if possible.

Children's pools should remain at 32 degrees," he says.

However, the room temperature in the buildings has been reduced by a good one degree.

Zielinski emphasizes that more than ever, pool operators are paying attention to the effects of temperature changes on energy consumption.

"Our employees have always been aware of the need to use energy carefully, because that's hard cash," he says.

"Now let's think about it more."

The society for bathing is meanwhile becoming very fundamental: In its twelve-page paper, the industry association not only explains how to turn the thermostat, but also proposes a nine-step plan in the event of an impending lockdown.

In further steps, attractions such as slides or outdoor pools would then be switched off.

The last escalation level would be the suspension of club and school swimming or even the therapeutically necessary swimming.

It also explains how the pools could be brought through a lockdown in an energy-saving manner.

In general, it is also hoped that the long-standing willingness to reform the pools with regard to energy consumption will experience a certain acceleration due to the crisis.