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The city points to weather conditions, energy saving measures, and an indoor swimming pool alternative.
The outdoor swimming season in Griesheim is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 14, 2025. As the city administration announced, the opening this year is deliberately later than usual. The decision was made taking into account climatic conditions, economic aspects, and the simultaneous use of the indoor swimming pool.
“In recent years, the last weeks of May have often been too cold for regular outdoor pool operation,” explains Mayor Geza Krebs-Wetzl. “If we open the outdoor pool at the beginning of June, we can use the indoor pool regardless of the weather until then. That’s an advantage that many other municipalities that open in May don’t have.”
Another reason for the later start is the more effective use of solar energy for water heating. Higher outside temperatures in June allow the water to be heated more energy-efficiently, which helps to reduce operating costs.
Solar absorber system: Project postponed for now
As part of the outdoor swimming pool renovation, a solar thermal system for environmentally friendly water heating was considered. However, roof inspections by a specialist engineering firm revealed that the existing roof structure could not bear an additional load. A complete reconstruction of the roof truss would have been necessary – including comprehensive building regulations such as thermal and fire protection, sound insulation, and proof of additional parking spaces.
The estimated costs amount to approximately €1.736 million, of which €1.6 million is for roof renovation alone. In contrast, only around €247,000 in potential subsidies were available. The city council therefore decided by majority vote on March 14, 2024, not to implement the solar absorber project for the time being.
The later start to the season has further diminished the economic benefits of a solar thermal system. At the beginning of the season, the well water has to be heated with gas condensing boilers anyway.
(Griesheim - Red/PSG)
