AN outdoor swimming pool is now being heated using the earth’s energy.

The new green energy system has been installed at the Chipping Norton Lido where the water is heated by a ground source heat pump.

The system uses heat from the earth, and is powered by solar panels on the roof, cutting energy costs and saving about 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The pool used to be heated by gas, meaning it had a high carbon footprint and was not environmentally friendly.

The £140,000 project was made possible thanks to a variety of grants, including £27,500 donated by energy provider EDF Energy and £63,505 from the Government’s Low Carbon Building programme.

Claire Jarvis, a trustee of the charity-run pool, said: “This vital project is a huge step forward in ensuring the pool remains open for future generations.

“It will significantly reduce the environmental impact inherent in running an open air heating pool and help address concerns about the long-term economic survival of the Lido.

“This project proves that open air pools can continue to provide a comfortable swim for everyone without such a big environmental impact.

“It takes an environmentally sustainable approach to securing the pool’s future.”

The pool was built when residents of Chipping Norton clubbed together to raise money to build in in the 1960s and 70s.

The pool opened for its 40th summer season on April 29.

Visitor numbers have risen to about 15,000 in recent years and the pool is one of almost 100 remaining open air pools in Britain.

In 2004, residents formed the Keep Our Pool Open campaign which saved the facility from closing following rising energy costs.

Jo Steven, who leads EDF Energy’s Green Fund, said: “We’re delighted that this project to provide a low cost and low carbon energy solution for the Chipping Norton Lido will help secure its future.

“Thousands of people will be able to have fun splashing around in this amazing open air pool this summer, knowing it is heated by the power of the sun and the soil.”

The green energy system captures heat from the earth by pumping liquid through nine boreholes, drilled in the car park. A compressor raises the temperature to a level that can be used to heat the pool.