A thriving sports club in Solihull is set to save £20,000-a-year on energy costs after accessing a grant to transform their facility and boost their green credentials.
Solihull Indoor Bowls Club has upgraded its home on Brick Kiln Lane thanks to a £61,837 grant from the NZGP, which is co-ordinated locally by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham City Council and Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM).
The project has been match-funded to completely modernise its premises with carbon and cost cutting measures including almost 100 solar panels, an insulated suspended ceiling in the bowling hall, and tailored LED lighting designed specifically for sports to reduce glare. Measures have helped the club futureproof its premises with sustainable renewable energy and make it more energy efficient, improving its ability to retain warmth and lowering heating bills.
Combined, the changes will result in the club offsetting more than 112,000kg of carbon dioxide (CO2e) per year – the equivalent carbon saving of 115 roundtrips across Great Britain by car.
The club, which offers all-year round bowling and social facilities to around 400 members and leases its premises to a range of community groups from Weight Watchers to pre-school classes, now hopes the upgrades can help take indoor bowls in Solihull to the next level.
“We’re thrilled, not only for our members, but for the borough, as I think Solihull now boasts one of the best indoor bowls facilities in the country.
Tom Millership, Managing Director
The main expense at the club over the last 18 months has been powering utilities and to safeguard the future of the club we had to look at ways to reduce that, so the solar panels – the first we’ve had as a club – will provide us with that affordable, renewable alternative“
