Astrid Hendrikx | 16 November 2019
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important within the football sector. More and more football clubs are working on sustainability and discover that energy-saving measures can lead to significant savings. Moreover, the KNVB advocates a more sustainable football sport and wants to help amateur football clubs to become greener. Are you curious about the measures you can take as a football club? In this blog Sit & Heat gives you a few smart measures that you can do for your club to become more sustainable.
Investing in renewable energy
Investing in sustainable alternatives offers opportunities to strengthen the financial position of football clubs. Football clubs have to deal with rising costs and falling sponsor and canteen expenses, which is detrimental to their budgets. Football clubs can invest in more sustainable measures, which in the long run can lead to lower costs, especially lower energy costs. For football clubs, energy is one of the biggest cost items. The KNVB, together with the tennis (KNLTB) and hockey (KNHB) associations, is therefore initiating 'The Green Club'. The KNVB wants to take responsibility and work towards a CO2-neutral sports world. If you don't do it for the climate, do it for the money', according to the KNVB.
The Green Club
Every football club can sign up for The Green Club. A pilot project with 30 clubs shows that the average sports club can save €7000 per year. The ambition of De Groene Club is to guide 500 clubs per season to a sustainable accommodation. With a five-step plan, the Green Club helps clubs to implement cost-saving measures within one year that can save up to thousands of euros per year. The guidance programme is financed by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Sustainable stadium heating
Stadium heating is a high cost item that causes the energy bill to rise significantly for football clubs. Heaters or stoves are often used, with most of the heat disappearing into the outside air. Energy-efficient stadium heating, on the other hand, ensures that the heat is not lost and also provides 95% in energy savings. For example, stadium heating in the form of heated seats, built-in heating in business seats or built into plastic bucket seats. Did you know that Heracles Almelo, VV Noordwijk, Katwijk Quick Boys, VV Venlo and FC Dak are already loyal fans of Sit & Heat's sustainable seat heating system? Besides being good for the environment, it saves costs and, as a football club, it is also good for your sustainable image.
Small sustainable measures
Even small measures can go a long way towards making a sports club more sustainable. For example, a movement sensor can be placed on interior lighting, in this way lamps in changing rooms can be switched off automatically. Also door closers that close doors and bar cooling can be switched off during the week with a simple time switch. The above sustainable measures can be implemented in every sports branch and sports accommodation. In addition, the heated seats of Sit & Heat are suitable for every stadium.
