Bright sparks help clubs save

SEE THE LIGHT: The LiteClub implementation crew Russell Grant (left), Claire Keeling and Paul Eisel installed 78 of these energy efficient lightbulbs to help make savings at the Kaierau Country Club in Wanganui last week.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 180215WCSMENERGYSAVING1

THE Wanganui Kaierau Rugby Club is poised to make substantial savings over the next few years with no outlay.

The club's headquarters at the Kaierau Country Club in Devon Rd had a visit from the LiteClub crew last week. LiteClub provides a free service for community sports clubs to reduce electricity, water and waste disposal costs, so money can be spent on what really matters - sport. LiteClub is able to do this thanks to national and local trust funding. For every dollar invested in LiteClub, savings of $2.57 can be made for community sport.

LiteClub is an initiative of the Project Litefoot Trust, which is led by 10 NZ sporting heroes, including Brendon McCullum, Conrad Smith, Sarah Walker and top surfer Daniel Kereopa. These ambassadors have been making similar efficiency changes in their own lives and now compete against each other to see who can reduce their environmental impact and household running costs the most. They want community sports clubs and all their members to follow their lead and LiteClub is the way they are making that happen.

LiteClub eco design advisor Russell Grant said three areas were looked at.

"We look at power, water and waste. It's all about seeing how clubs can make savings through efficient uses of these three, often costly, areas," Grant said while assessing Kaierau's case.

"Efficient lighting is a simple area to reduce costs through using low wattage bulbs and savings of $20 a year over the eight-year life of these bulbs can be made. In Kaierau's case we replaced 78 bulbs free of charge."

At the end of the exercise last week the LiteClub crew upgraded 78 lightbulbs, used 3.5 metres of lagging fitted to hot water pipes and installed three water-saving devices on taps and toilets.

Over the lifetime of the installed products, Kaierau RFC is expected to save $13,900 and reduce water consumption by 300,000 litres, according to LiteClub.

Resident groundsman Merv Benson said he would be keeping a keen eye on expenses.

"It will be interesting. Last month our power bill was $900 and that's pretty close to what it is every month. Even is summer time it's quite large. For instance our chiller motors run flat knacker 24/7 keeping things cool in summer," Benson said.

LiteClub also completed a similar assessment of the Aramoho-Wanganui Rowing Club last week and plan to be back in Wanganui in August. Interested clubs can register online at liteclub.org