Hoebridge Golf Centre, part of Burhill Golf & Leisure, has helped the environment by reducing its lighting electrical load by around 90 per cent.
As part of the Burhill group’s drive to minimise the environmental impact across its 10 courses, Hoebridge was keen to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.
The centre, in Woking, has undergone a major lighting upgrade with its old halogen lights being replaced by Master LED solid state lights from Philips Lighting, reducing the electrical load from more than 21,000W to just over 2,000W.
Following consultation with Philips Lighting it was decided to install the latest generation of light emitting diode (LED) fittings. As well as reducing energy consumption, the Master LED light sources have an average life of 45,000 hours, over five times as long as the halogen lamps previously used, so that Hoebridge will also benefit from reduced maintenance costs.
Mike O’Connell, Hoebridge Golf Centre general manager, said: “We are extremely pleased with how the lights look and the improvements they have made. With the bulbs being low energy they will save on energy costs and help to reduce our carbon footprint, which fits in perfectly with our Environmental Policy, which has already seen us build a new reservoir to save on water consumption.
“The new lights have certainly made a vast improvement in the clubhouse. Previously we were forever replacing light bulbs and the lighting was fairly inconsistent around the building.
“The new lights give off a much whiter and more consistent light into every corner of the clubhouse, especially in the pro shop, it’s like Wembley Stadium in there now because it is so bright.
Burhill Golf & Leisure introduced its Environmental Policy in April 2009, designed to enrich the environments of its 10 courses and promote sound, sustainable management of its facilities.
Initiatives already implemented at the group’s three golf clubs and seven pay-and-play golf centres include a heather restoration project at Burhill Golf Club; ornithological surveys and the addition of bird boxes at Abbey Hill Golf Centre, Milton Keynes; waste water recycling for machinery wash down at Burhill Golf Club, Wycombe Heights Golf Centre and Abbey Hill Golf Centre; plus integrated supplier plans to reduce packaging and haulage.
Colin Mayes, Burhill Golf & Leisure chief executive, added: “It is extremely important that as a group we continue to look at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and help the environment. Our Environmental Policy is proving to be a great success in helping us towards our goal of reducing energy consumption. Not only is it great for the environment, it is also good business too.”
Hoebridge Golf Centre www.hoebridgegc.co.uk