Sports clubs see improvements in electricity, water and waste

Ten Whanganui sports clubs have already benefited from assistance by LiteClub and another five will soon be set up more efficiently. Photo / Stuart Munro

Five Whanganui sports clubs are set to receive a helping hand to save money and reduce their impact on the environment.

In early August, representatives of charitable trust Litefoot will visit the Wanganui Athletic Football Club, Whanganui Netball Centre, Wanganui Golf Club, Wanganui Marist Rugby Club and Whanganui City Football Club as part of the trust's LiteClub programme.

It is a free service for sports clubs that looks at efficiency improvements in electricity, water and waste.

"The goal is to reduce clubroom running costs, which frees up money to go back into what really matters - sport," operations general manager Antonia Gerlach said.

"By spending less on utilities that don't directly benefit grassroots sport, money can go back into coaching, player development and buying new gear.

"Clubs are usually cash-strapped and run by busy volunteers who don't have the time or money to make these changes.

"By being more efficient with resources, the club has less of an impact on the environment, too."

LiteClub's field teams travel New Zealand in a van stocked with LED lightbulbs, water saving devices, hot water cylinder wraps, pipe lagging and indoor waste sorting bins to help clubs with their recycling.

LiteClub has visited 10 Whanganui sports clubs in the past.

"Across these clubs, the LED lighting upgrades and hot water pipe insulation are calculated to free up $66,098 over the lifetime of the products installed, and prevent 58 tonnes of carbon emissions," Gerlach said.

"Thirty-eight waste sorting stations were also set up in clubrooms to make recycling more effective and easier for club volunteers to manage. Simple water saving devices installed in taps and toilets will conserve more than 300,000 litres of water each year."

The programme is funded by the Lion Foundation and local funders like the Whanganui District Council and Infinity Foundation.

Sports clubs can register for future visits by the LiteClub team at liteclub.org/register-your-club