Richmond Saves “The Plunge,” Opens Greenest Pool in America

California community solar power is about to get wet and wild. For over a decade, the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, an historic community pool built in the Bay Area’s city of Richmond in 1925, has been in grave danger of being lost to the community permanently. By 1997, a lack of funding for maintenance and seismic upgrades forced the Richmond City Council to close the pool, but the Richmond Friends of Recreation came together to lead a drive to reopen it, while turning the pool into the healthiest and “greenest” pool in the United States.

Tomorrow, August 14th, 2010, the Richmond Plunge reopens to widespread fanfare and with a significant eco-friendly makeover. The 60′x160′, 324,000-gallon pool is filled with non-chlorinated saline water and heated by 3,500 square feet of solar thermal collectors. The facility is also powered by 30 kilowatts of solar electric panels. The building has 300 operable windows, high-efficiency boiler system and state of the art pool pumps to add to its greenness.

Most beneficial to the kids and adults in the water is the total absence of chlorine. The saltwater pool utilizes an ultraviolet disinfectant system to remain clean and allow swimmers to enjoy the water without goggles.

Other features making The Plunge the greenest pool in the nation include new technology for water conservation, energy efficiency, natural ventilation (those operable windows) and a re-purposed mushroom fountain. Also, a large plot has been reserved outside the natatorium’s west side for a community food garden.

The $7.5 million required to sustainably upgrade the pool was paid for through city redevelopment funds, allocated by a regional voter measure, individual grants and personal donations — some as little as $5.

For the entirety of its 80-plus year history, the Richmond Plunge has been a gathering place for all ages, races, economic statuses, physical ability and life status — a beacon of inclusiveness through an often-turbulent 20th Century. Through depressions, recessions, racial tensions and increased poverty, the pool has served as a meeting place, a water escape for all from the rigors of daily life.

The rehabilitation and renovation of the Plunge was performed by Todd Jersey Architecture, based in Berkeley, California. The firm has been developing  and implementing green building systems for more than 20 years and has been actively involved in green architecture projects across Northern California.

Sun Light & Power, a 34-year-old alternative energy company, installed the solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) systems. Founder Gary Gerber has been president of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA).

The solar heating equipment used to heat the Richmond Plunge was manufactured by Heliodyne, another 34-year-old solar company. Heliodyne’s offices and manufacturing facilities are based in Richmond.

The grand opening of the Richmond Plunge, following 10 years of restoration work, will take place Saturday, August 14th at 11 a.m. on East Richmond Avenue at Garrard Boulevard in Point Richmond, California.

Posted on August 16th in Solar News by Dan.