A free programme for community sport clubs promises to lower both their expenses and carbon footprint, with no strings attached.
The LiteClub initiative from LiteFoot is travelling the country stocked with resources to help clubs become more efficient with electricity, water and waste.
Since 2011, 58 Horizons community sports clubs have been visited, with each having various minimisation initiatives implemented.
About 24 clubs in Palmerston North and Manawatu have benefited, with organisers expecting them to collectively save up to $159,000 and 67 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Liteclub head of operations Sam Maclean says the objective is to transform the community sports culture and infrastructure so they become electricity independent, water neutral and zero-waste by 2025.
The Feilding Yellows Rugby Football Club was visited by LiteClub last year, and Mr Mclean says they've had some of the best results.
"LiteClub's field team upgraded 59 old, energy-hungry lightbulbs to LED, installed water saving devices in the bathrooms and set up two indoor recycling stations in the clubrooms. The lighting upgrade will drastically reduce the club's energy usage, freeing up $19,430 over the 15-year lifetime of the new lights. This alone will prevent eight tonnes of CO2 emissions."
Manawatu Rugby Community manager Ben Koch encourages all clubs to take up the scheme.
"It's a no-brainer really. Day-to-day expenses are on the rise yet funding is not increasing. Clubs need to be proactive in keeping their overheads down."
The Central Energy Trust and Lion Foundation provided funding that enabled LiteClub's free service to be available to clubs in Palmerston North and Manawatu. Support from both national and local funders like gaming and community trusts and local councils allow LiteClub to be a free, accessible service.
More information is available at liteclub.org