Time to get serious about sustainability
It can be tricky to know what the best practices are around sustainable turfcare so we’ve helped develop the GreenGrounds initiative, working with its founder Bio-Circle, the sustainable surface technology system manufacturer, to promote environmental awareness within the turf and groundscare industries.
The GreenGrounds initiative is designed to raise the importance of effective sustainable activities and make an overall positive impact towards decarbonisation and environmentally-friendly maintenance for groundscare.
Recently the two businesses compiled a guide with starter recommendations on how to begin thinking about meaningful sustainable grounds maintenance, there’s no greenwashing in sight and all have achievable starting points. Here are just a few to provide some inspiration.
Water recycling is as old as Earth itself
There’s not a drop of water today that wasn’t already here when the Earth formed – we just need to help to keep recycling it! Not only is it important to consider capturing and storing it, but can you reduce wastage or be more efficient with usage, with the bonus of reducing your bills at the same time? There are lots of ways to make a difference.
The power of the sun
The sun is your choice to free unlimited power for your buildings and infrastructure. Small solar farms or solar panels have an initial investment, but for some, it will prove to be the best investment they ever made. It could be for you too. And we encourage exploring what might work for your venue and premises.
Put the faith in the battery
When fleets renew, consider your options carefully as technology is moving fast and affordable electric and hybrid machinery are entering the market all the time. Running a combined fleet of fuel and alternative energy powered machinery is fast becoming the norm. Long-term fleet planning aligning decarbonisation goals can mean having the best of both worlds, while protecting yours
Pitching organic pitches
Organic turf can be a game changer without changing the game. They allow for cooler playing surfaces, providing water retention and natural evaporation processes, and reduced static friction. A small procurement policy tweak and you can make big steps towards sustainable turfcare maintenance.
Washing away problems, literally
Washing machinery down uses huge volumes of water. What if there was a way to wash down without being so wasteful? There is. Sustainable machine and parts washing products put an immediate stop to this. And with it huge reductions in costs.
Take the three-in-one parts washing EKO system from Bio-Circle for example. Using a smart blend of water and air, EKO creates a fine mist that delivers high cleaning power while cutting water usage by 39.5 litres per minute which equates to around 120,000 litres of water saved per washdown, per site – with zero chemical runoff and no damage to battery-powered equipment. When you consider that big clubs have a stadium, multiple training grounds, and an academy, that’s an incredible amount of water you’re saving during every washdown.
The before, during and after – effective, sustainable machinery cleaning with Bio-Circle’s EKO system.
Pipe up about no cable irrigation
Today venues can install irrigation systems that have no cabling at all. Ask about WiFi and Bluetooth control systems talking to decoders and sprinklers without the need for miles of plastic and rubber cables.
What precisely is precision?
It’s often spoken about how irrigation can look wasteful, but it doesn’t have to be. Choose wisely and you can irrigate to the millimetre, not minute, to the specific spots that need water and no other. Precision irrigation matters more than ever today.
Reservoirs need managing?
Applying best practice management prevents wasteful evaporation by the gallons every year. Another one where starting the conversation will bring dividends. Talk to your contractor to learn how to add an effective reservoir management programme to your sustainability strategy. Yes, it’s about water quality and turf health, but also about preserving that water, too.
Those with successful and usually award-winning sustainability strategies haven’t dabbled and fallen foul of greenwashing, they’ve drafted a plan, tackled realistically achievable tasks and eventually written a sustainability strategy that can be achieved. Plan some sustainability goals of your own and remember there’s help if needed.
Join the conversation, contact Reesink Turfcare on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk/greengrounds.