With increasing concern over future energy supply and global climate change, there is now growing pressure on golf courses to become more energy efficient. Reducing your energy use, while simultaneously improving the efficiency of your operations, will help to cut costs, demonstrate your commitment to environmental stewardship and ensure compliance with legislation.
Taking steps to become more energy efficient can be initiated by following some basic guidelines:
- ensure all machinery, including irrigation pumps, is regularly serviced and in good working order
- provide staff with appropriate training to utilise equipment correctly
- manage for dry, firm and healthy turf to minimise the need for water, pesticides, fertiliser and other materials
- identify jobs which can be combined to save both time and fuel. Using less does not have to mean doing less
- devise the most efficient travel routes around the golf course for all maintenance operations
- use more energy efficient forms of lighting, heating and vehicle fuel
- investigate the use of renewable energy sources.
Monitoring and recording energy use is an important step to take and this can be usefully facilitated by appointing a member of staff as your on-site energy officer, to oversee improvements in energy consumption. There is a growing abundance of free energy audits on the market, which you may consider taking advantage of, in order to implement their recommendations. Government guidance should be followed and there are numerous other online sources of information on energy efficiency which you may wish to consult.
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