Issue date
About 50 yacht clubs around New Zealand have made some simple changes recommended by LiteClub which has saved them more than $250,000.
LiteClub is a free service that helps community sports clubs save money on their running costs by being more efficient with energy, water and waste. These efficiency changes not only reduce the clubs’ impact on the environment, they also free up money to put back into what really matters – sport.
During 1-2 hour-long club visits, the field team make on-the-spot changes, such as upgrading old lighting to LED, insulating hot water cylinders and pipes, installing water-saving devices in taps and toilets and setting up sorting bins to make recycling easier. LiteClub’s sustainability advisers also note larger opportunities to improve efficiency and the club is sent a report with recommendations following the visit.
LiteClub is completely free for clubs – both the visit and the products installed. This is made possible thanks to a variety of funders ranging from local boards to community, energy and gaming trusts.
Sevens yacht clubs in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty - Howick Sailing Club, Manly Sailing Club, Mount Maunganui Yacht Club, Napier Sailing Club, Richmond Yacht Club, Rotorua Yacht Club and Taikata Sailing Club - have taken up the offer over the last few months.
Across these seven clubs LiteClub upgraded 103 lightbulbs to LED, wrapped 6m of pipes in lagging to insulate against heat loss, installed 17 water-saving devices in taps and toilets and supplied 20 sorting-at-source bins for waste. They awarded 23 medals to these clubs for areas in which they are already performing well.
The total savings for these is over $20,000 over the lifetime of the products installed - roughly 10 percent the total savings for yacht clubs visited so far.
To secure a visit by the LiteClub field team, register your interest on their website. LiteClub will then be in touch to arrange a time to visit your club. Please be advised that places are limited and it is first in, first served. LiteClub makes a loop of the country every year, beginning with Auckland this winter.
For more information about LiteClub, see here, or please contact Shawn Elise Tierney at the LiteClub office (shawnelise@liteclub.org or 09 377 6792).
