Understanding of scopes 1, 2 and 3 will enable us to quantify our carbon taken in by the natural environment compared to what we are emitting.
Sustainability
Our actions are part of the solution.
Sustainability at the heart of our club
General Manager – Richard Stilwell has committed to 7 fundamental commitments which frame our strategy of how we will become Net Zero. For the last decade, Redbourn Golf Club part of the BGL Group has been a leader in sustainable golf and climate action and will continue to strive towards a greener future.
Our commitments are aligned to the Sustainable Golf Themes, Action Areas, OnCourse® tracking, Annual Scorecards and 5 yearly Certification provided by GEO Foundation (Golf Environmental Organisation) for Sustainable Golf.
We are proud to present what we have achieved so far across Energy, Water and Waste, and are committed to continuing our hard work within Sustainability and reducing the effects we have on the environment for the benefit of our employees, members, visitors and guests.
As a team we can make a difference
We at Rebourn take sustainability seriously, we know that to make a positive change for the future, everyone must be on board. Therefore, we collaborate with the team, members, and visitors to continue to make our site greener. We have incorporated sustainability into everything we do at Redbourn, there is not one staff member who does not eagerly collaborate.
Our two courses were built on agricultural land in the early 1970s. This land change has created some significant carbon sequestration, habitat, and ecological diversity with an annual carbon sequestration of 166.9 tCO2e.
We are proud to have won the Burhill Group Sustainability Award in 2022 and will continue to strive to better ourselves in this area, working towards our goal of becoming Net Zero.
Hybrid Greens Mower
Our Hybrid greens mower has an 18.5kW internal combustion engine which is supplemented with power from a self-recharging 48vdc battery system and generator. In standard mowers, only about half of the energy generated is converted into output energy.
Our new hybrid mower can collect the excess energy and store it to be used later.
It may be more expensive than Diesel however we know the benefits to the environment out-weigh the cost, here’s just a few:
- Lower Emissions: Hybrid mowers typically produce fewer emissions compared to diesel mowers, contributing to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Quieter Operation: Hybrid mowers tend to operate more quietly than diesel mowers, reducing noise pollution.
- Fuel Efficiency: Hybrid mowers use a combination of electric and diesel power, which can lead to significant fuel savings. The electric component often handles lighter tasks, reducing the overall reliance on diesel fuel.
- Adaptability: Hybrid technology allows for versatility in mowing conditions, enabling the mower to handle various terrains and grass types effectively.
-
ENERGY
Ultimately our goal is to fully transition to sustainable energy.
We have been in conversations with UK Power Network about upgrading our power lines to facilitate the transition to more electric power and less gas. Our next step is to change from a gas hob to electric which will reduce carbon emissions by 3 times whilst being 34% more energy efficient, aiding our reduction in gas usage.
-
WATER
We only use water from our reservoir to water our greens
As we experience hotter, drier summers, to have the ability to irrigate our courses through sustainable sources and reduce the demands on water companies when water is needed elsewhere is extremely important to us.
We have put in place a project to find sustainable water sources and built on-site storage to reduce the danger and prevent demand conflicts with our neighbourhood. In 2018 a reservoir was built on our grounds which holds 8500 Cu M of water helping to retain surface water rather than relying on using mains or bore holes.
We are currently investigating other alternative water sources which will help reduce local flooding.
-
Pollution Prevention
Hazardous materials are not absorbed into the ground
Our hazardous materials are stored in bunded containers and disposed on a closed loop wash pad preventing any of the cleaning materials being absorbed into the ground effecting the local habitat.
We work closely with our licensed waste contractors to responsibly store and dispose of hazardous materials, minimising environmental impacts and taking responsibility for the final destination. -
Waste
We have made huge changes with a big impact
A recent waste audit highlighted the areas that needed improvement and we took action! After increasing the number of recycling bins throughout the course and clubhouse, reducing our general waste and recycling bins from 50/50 to 30/70 (respectively) and organising the proper collection and disposal of empty chemical containers, we have seen vast improvements.
Carbon Sequestration
We are on a journey to achieve net zero, as part of the process we are measuring our Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, and reviewing the carbon dioxide taken in by the land and habitats we manage.
GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf has confirmed that our course is taking in 166.9 tCO2e every year! We are working with the Woodland Trust to increase the amount of carbon taken in every year throughout the plantation process across the facility and reviewing the areas in play.