How Your Club Could Save Thousands — and the Environment

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If someone offered you the opportunity to instantly save $150,000 in annual club operating costs, you’d probably think it was too good to be true. And in the words of Darryl Kerrigan from The Castle, if those cost savings also reduced your environmental footprint and led to positive PR, you’d likely respond: “tell him he’s dreaming”!

But that’s potentially what’s on offer to every club across NSW at an upcoming seminar being hosted by Max Haas and his team at ACE Solutions.

Don’t take their word for it though — Paul Brasch from Sydney’s NSW Masonic Club thinks it’s something every club should take advantage of.

“These are real savings by implementing simple actions. I’m not a paid employee of this company, I’m just happy to share our story so other clubs also benefit,” says Paul.

“I first came across Max seven years ago when he started by looking at our electricity usage profile and prioritise the cost, he reduced our power bill by approximately $50,000 annually by renegotiating the peak and off-peak rates, which was significant for a small club.”

That’s where Paul thought the relationship would start and end, but in the following years, Max started running the ruler over every other part of the Club’s operations.

He started off by examining the Club’s sizeable water use, thanks in large part to their 83-room hotel business.

By changing the shower heads from 15-litres-per-minute to seven-litres-per-minute, water consumption was cut in half, saving approximately $36,000 annually.

As environmental sustainability became a societal focus, Max adapted his business, accordingly, providing hospitality venues — including the NSW Masonic Club — greenhouse gas emission reports.

Not only do they set an environmental benchmark, but they also pinpoint the key drawers of energy within the building, opening up the possibility of further cost savings.

“This report measures the number of emissions generated by the building from electricity, gas, waste and other sources. We then set about reducing these emissions. I’m not a greenie per se, but it just makes financial sense to be environmentally sustainable,” says Paul.

“And from a marketing perspective, it also meant we’ve been able to tell our environmental story to our guests. One practical example was the hotel’s daily housekeeping service, which we found cost approximately $20 per room per day. We now give guests the option to opt out of the daily housekeeping service, which means less labour and less washing of sheets and towels which is less electricity, gas and less hot water,” says Paul.

“As a thank you, we provide a complimentary mini bar to those guests which only costs us $4 per room. This month alone, 121 guests have opted out of the housekeeping service and only a fraction take up the offer of the free mini bar.”

The Club also applied for energy efficiency grants to produce reports on the building’s energy, which resulted in curtain installation on easterly-facing windows because that’s where the sun comes up and was the hottest part of the building, requiring cooling and increasing energy costs.

A variable speed driver pressure pump was also installed to regulate the water from the cooling tower.

These are just a handful of some of the recommendations implemented by the NSW Masonic Club which has not only reduced the environmental footprint but also led to sizeable savings to their bottom line.

And considering the relatively small size of the Club, Paul believes other clubs could potentially save far more than the $150,000 that they have.

“It’s about working smarter rather than harder and using the available knowledge and resources,” he says.

Ace Solutions’ special seminar on Tuesday, 10 September has been tailored specifically for the club industry, and at a cost of $120 per venue it could help your club save thousands of dollars while reducing your environmental footprint.

“In today’s competitive landscape, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a strategic advantage,” says Ace Solutions CEO Max Haas.

“By mastering greenhouse gas reporting, businesses can uncover hidden efficiencies, reduce operational costs and enhance their reputation. These reports not only streamline resource management but also highlight opportunities for innovation and cost savings.

“To enhance your sustainability credentials, join our expert-led Greenhouse Gas Masterclass to transform your environmental impact into a competitive advantage.”

Turning your Carbon Footprint into Profit Webinar
Day: Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $120 per club for ClubsNSW Members

REGISTER HERE