From Wimbledon 2024 to Your Local Tennis Club: Key Sustainability Insights to Enhance and Elevate Your Members’ Experience… with the expense spared
- 2 Rays
- Jan 10
- 4 min read
Sustainability for your Tennis Club and Boosting Energy Savings and so much more…
Over the past two weeks, the Wimbledon Tennis Games have captivated global audiences, culminating in an extraordinary final weekend showcasing exceptional skill and sportsmanship. On Saturday, the women’s final featured a thrilling match between Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini, while Sunday saw Djokovic and Alcaraz face off in an electrifying men’s final. The event's popularity was evident, with coverage amassing around an impressive 50.2 million streams(BBC, 2024).
A Green Surge in Participation
Since 2009, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has been at the forefront of environmental sustainability. Fast forward to 2024, and their commitment is stronger than ever. This year, AELTC is ramping up on-site renewable electricity generation, replacing traditional generators with green alternatives, and enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances. By 2027, Wimbledon aims to eliminate gas equipment from its kitchens entirely (Hannay, 2023).
Let’s dive into how adopting renewable energy can revolutionise your tennis club, inspired by the prestigious Wimbledon Championships.
Leading in Environmental Stewardship
In 2022, the number of adults playing tennis in Great Britain surged by 43%, increasing from 3.3 million to 4.7 million(Sports Nation, 2023). As one of the most popular sports in the UK, tennis provides an excellent opportunity to bring together people from various backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and belonging. This economic impact extends to grassroots levels, where local clubs and matches stimulate small businesses and community investments.
Studies consistently demonstrate a positive link between adopting renewable energy solutions and improving financial performance in businesses. Especially with the increasing focus on sustainability among sports fans. Local tennis clubs can position themselves as leaders in environmental stewardship, as sustainable practices not only boost financial performance but also ensure long-term success. This is due to the increase of reputation through the rise of the bottom line, which strengthens customer loyalty, elevates employee morale, and attracts community support (Issa and Hanaysha, 2023).
Serving Sunshine: Powering the Future of Tennis
Tennis, being both an indoor and outdoor sport, consumes a significant amount of electricity for floodlights, internal lighting, and air conditioning—providing warmth during winter and cooling during summer. The energy bill for these facilities varies greatly depending on the size and amenities of the tennis court and can range anything from £1,000 up to around £33,000 per year (LTA, 2023).
Utilising dormant roof space for solar panels to generate their own sustainable energy, integrating battery energy storage systems to utilise on premises in the evening and installing EV chargers for members who are making the transition over to electrical vehicles are practical steps. These initiatives lower energy costs, decrease reliance on fossil fuels and enhance the club’s overall environmental impact (LTA, 2022).
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills, many tennis tournaments and sports stadiums in the UK are already transitioning to sustainable energy sources like solar power. Covering at least 20% of their electricity usage through renewable energy adoption in their sports facilities. Some examples are Wimbledon, Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre and Wakefield Sports Club.
Greener Pastures: Empowering Businesses with Green Grants
Whilst many tennis venues across the UK are already embracing renewable energy, this is a budding area of growth for the West Midlands. Now is the opportune moment for local tennis clubs to leverage government grants: The Net Zero Grant programme which offers up to £100,000 for investments in renewable energy technologies.
This initiative, backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, offers significant financial assistance to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
The programme includes an intervention rate of up to 50% for investments in renewable technologies such as solar panels, which not only decrease energy expenses but also enhance sustainability efforts—ensuring substantial support for businesses seeking to implement these cost-saving measures (Birmingham City Council, n.d.). With this funding from the government, tennis clubs in the West Midlands can boost their competitive advantage, meet legal climate requirements, and contribute positively to the environment.
The Competitive Edge of Being a Leader in Sustainability
Local tennis clubs in the West Midlands have a unique opportunity to champion decarbonisation and inspire the adoption of environmentally friendly practices. By embracing sustainability initiatives inspired by Wimbledon 2024, these clubs can elevate member experiences, foster community pride, and pave the way towards a more sustainable future, significantly boosting their societal and environmental influence.
Credit: Jing Wang
Reference list
BBC (2024). Audiences flock to the BBC for Sunday’s major sport finals with 19.3m tuning in for the Euros and 7.5m for Wimbledon. [online] www.bbc.co.uk. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/audiences-flock-to-bbc-for-major-sport-finals-euros-wimbledon [Accessed 16 Jul. 2024].
Birmingham City Council (n.d.). Net Zero Grant Programme | Birmingham City Council. [online] www.birmingham.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50294/net_zero_grant_programme [Accessed 4 Jul. 2024].
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LTA (2022). SUSTAINABILITY PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL Securing a lasting future for tennis in Britain. [online] Available at: https://www.lta.org.uk/49b7ca/siteassets/about-lta/file/lta-environmental-sustainability-plan.pdf.
LTA (2023). LTA helping clubs to save thousands of pounds and combat cost of living crisis. [online] Lawn Tennis Association. Available at: https://www.lta.org.uk/news/lta-helping-clubs-save-thousands-of-pounds-and-combat-cost-of-living-crisis/ [Accessed 16 Jul. 2024].
LTA (2024). LTA’s environmental sustainability plan updated. [online] Lawn Tennis Association. Available at: https://www.lta.org.uk/news/lta-provides-update-on-progress-in-delivering-environmental-sustainability-plan-for-tennis-in-britain/ [Accessed 16 Jul. 2024].
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Wimbledon (2024). Net zero operational emissions. [online] Wimbledon.com. Available at: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/about_wimbledon/zero_operational_emissions.html.
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