A West Midlands golf club is driving forward with ambitious green targets as part of a plan to cut its carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2030.
The first stage of environmental work at Copt Heath Golf Club has seen more than £50,000 invested in solar energy panels on the clubhouse roof in Warwick Road, Knowle, on the eastern edge of Birmingham.
Since the installation was completed, the club has saved almost £5,000 in electricity costs and is on target to cut bills by £12,000 a year. It has also resulted in the reduction of CO 2 emissions by more than 3,100 kg do far – which the club says is equivalent to planting 190 trees.
Copt Heath is now talking to Solihull Council about submitting a planning application for a solar farm on land beside the 16 th fairway.
The potential £300,000 investment could generate 220,000 kw hours each year, significantly boosting the 30,000 kw hours per year from the existing roof panels.
Neil Ridding, who chairs the club’s environmental and facilities committee, said: “We brought in energy consultants who were able to demonstrate how much energy we were consuming and where it was coming from.
“As well as reducing costs, we strongly believe that we should do all we can to protect the environment by using natural resources, as this will only benefit the course and our members in the long-term.”
He said future plans include creating a water storage reservoir alongside the course practice area by extending an existing Environmental Agency license to draw water from a bore hole. That would help maximise natural resources and reduce waste, whilst protecting the course during summer drought conditions.
Elsewhere, the club plans to invest in more environmentally-friendly grounds equipment for the greenkeeping team and installing electric car charging points for members.
Club chairman Sir Terry Morgan said: “As one of the region’s leading golf clubs we have a responsibility to do all we can to protect the environment and our course for future generations.
“By setting an emissions target of Net Zero by 2030 we are demonstrating a real commitment to getting things done.”
