Energy-Saving Tips for Grassroots Football Clubs: Reduce Costs and Embrace Sustainability
Introduction:
As energy costs continue to rise, grassroots football clubs face challenges in meeting the expenses associated with running their sports and community activities. The GAA Green Club programme offers valuable advice on reducing energy costs and minimizing the carbon footprint of club operations. By understanding energy usage and implementing various energy-saving strategies, clubs can become more sustainable, save money, and contribute to environmental conservation.
The GAA Green Club is an initiative that helps clubs in learning and implementing new energy management processes.
The FAI, from our current research do not have an equivalent to the GAA Green Club and the FAI Club Mark does not seem to include sustainability. There may be something out there but that should not stop us looking at the GAA and learning from them.
The FAI Club mark, a brilliant inititive to encourage an improvement and standardisation across club admin, coaching and communications does not include energy sustainability.
Understanding Energy Usage:
To start the journey towards energy efficiency, grassroots clubs should gain a comprehensive understanding of their energy consumption. This can be achieved by reviewing energy bills, recording meter readings, and identifying areas of improvement. By establishing a baseline and assessing usage patterns, clubs can make informed decisions to optimize energy efficiency.
For a crash course in Energy Conservation and Solar in particular visit Darren O’Connor on his TikTok page as he waxes lyrical on enery conservation and chocolate manufacturing!
Low-Cost Quick Wins:
1. Lighting: Assign responsible individuals to turn off lights in changing rooms, toilets, the gym, and meeting rooms after use. Plan floodlighting and exterior lighting timings in advance to conserve energy. Consider lighting that turns on and off on movement sensors.
2. Space & Water Heating: Coordinate with team management, club users, and match organizers to determine shower usage times and only activate water heating when necessary. Use heating timers and turn on heating in rooms that are in use, blocking off draughts and avoiding open windows and doors.
3. Equipment Use and Maintenance: Regularly service and check boilers, generators, and pitch equipment to optimize fuel and energy efficiency. Run dishwashers and other appliances only when they are full to save on energy and water usage.
The amount of information within the above link specifically for Green Energy is superb. While these are GAA clubs they are also perfectly suitable for FAI Grassroots Football Clubs and infact also point to the significant different in facilities. We must learn from each other and the GAA in many areas are way ahead of most professional or profit driven organisations on the planet.
Significant Savings at Moderate Cost:
1. Insulation: Insulate attics, walls, and floors to reduce heating costs. Up to 30% of heat can be lost through the roof, 30% through walls, and 10% through floors. Grants for insulation are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
2. Interior Lighting Upgrades: Upgrade interior lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs for immediate cost savings and lower maintenance expenses.
3. Timers and Sensors: Install sensors and timers on lighting and heating systems to ensure energy is used efficiently.
Invest for Long-Term Savings:
1. Floodlighting LED Upgrade: Upgrade pitch floodlights to LED technology for up to three times less energy consumption and significant maintenance cost savings.
2. Solar PV Panels: Consider installing solar PV panels on the clubhouse to generate green electricity and reduce energy bills. Explore resources from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for guidance or contact MySolar.ie for some innovative and interesting ways to move towards a more sustainable energy future.
3. Heating Upgrades: Evaluate the feasibility of heat pumps, which are highly efficient heating solutions that can result in substantial cost savings. Ensure the clubhouse is properly insulated before considering heat pump installation.
Conclusion:
Grassroots football clubs can embrace sustainability and save costs by implementing energy-saving measures. By understanding their energy usage, clubs can identify areas for improvement and take action through low-cost quick wins, significant savings at a moderate cost, and long-term investments. Avail yourself of grants, upgrade to energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, consider solar PV installations, and explore heat pump options. By prioritizing energy efficiency, clubs can reduce expenses, contribute to environmental conservation, and ensure a brighter future for grassroots football.
To find out more about Solar Energy options for your club contact MySolar.ie
Striker Online is aware that club administrators need help and guidance to navigate these new and somewhat complex processes and technologies. By connecting solution providers with the needs of the grassroots community we can all benefit from “collaboration”. What one club learns from other clubs should benefit from too. We are one big family that must “compete on the pitch and collaborate off it”.
We recenlty had a conversation with MySolar.ie about how we could help clubs cross this very important bridge to energy management. We hope that this article may begin the conversation and move towards a solution for clubs that can benefit from the strength and size of our communty.
We welcome solution providers that can help our community tackle the new and emerging challenges. Providers who understand the dedication of our community and its volunteers. Companies who know too well the needs of our cash strapped clubs and can create value offerings that can be scaled to grow and be supplied across the grassroots community.
To get involved: alex@strikeronline.ie
