Our customer, Abbeycroft, is a not-for-profit registered charity that has 12 leisure centres across West Suffolk and Babergh, with a focus on improving health and wellbeing in the communities.
We spoke to Chloe Banham, Abbeycroft’s Area Manager, on the energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives the organisation is implementing, the challenges they have faced and the positive results they have experienced from energy and carbon saving.
TEAM: To start, could you give us a brief overview of your role and how you got involved in environmental management?
Chloe Banham: I took over the environmental side in October last year. I had recently become an area manager for three sites and took on the environmental responsibilities for the entire company. It was a significant change, but I received training, including carbon literacy and IEMA Level 4 qualifications, which helped me get up to speed.
TEAM: Can you tell us about the projects you’re currently working on?
Chloe: We’re in the midst of ESOS Phase Four, having completed Phase Three. Our focus is on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. For instance, we’re implementing BMS training to optimise our existing systems and exploring alternative methods for CHP units.
We’re also looking at innovative solutions like destratification fans which is a ventilation device that improves air circulation and temperature in buildings, and we have installed a backwashing machine which is used to clean a pool’s filter by reversing the flow of water to reduce water wastage in our swimming pools. We are aiming to implement this into all our sites that have swimming pools.
Currently we are completing a project on several of our sites that have 3G pitches with a rubber crumb on them, and we have boarded up the sides of them, so the rubber crumb doesn’t come off which is also reducing unnecessary waste. By the end of the year, all sites that have these pitches will have this completed.
TEAM: How do you effectively manage environmental sustainability across your sites?
Chloe: It’s definitely a challenge, but we have a structured approach. We conduct regular audits and have environmental champions at each site to help cascade information and implement quick wins. Our action plans are detailed and include input from various audits, such as ESOS and leisure energy audits. We also track our Greenhouse Gas emissions and energy usage monthly from each site to ensure we can track any positive trends over the next few years.
TEAM: Speaking of ESOS, how has having to comply with ESOS impacted your strategy?
Chloe: ESOS has been incredibly helpful. It provided a clear starting point for our action plans, highlighting quick wins and more in-depth projects for energy efficiency and carbon reduction. The audits have given us direction and helped us prioritise our efforts.
TEAM: Have you encountered any significant challenges along the way?
Chloe: The main challenge has been balancing environmental goals with financial constraints. The swimming pools in our centres are our highest energy emitters and we are trying to find the best sources and technology to reduce any unnecessary waste.
We have twelve sites, and each one is different with a unique set of challenges and opportunities to reduce energy consumption, there is not a one size fits all approach to our sites and therefore we are always looking for different initiatives to implement.
We need to ensure that our projects are sustainable both environmentally and financially. Working closely with West Suffolk Council and Babergh District Council is crucial in aligning our targets and securing funding and we have a great partnership with them as we work towards our joint goals.
TEAM: How are you finding tracking your progress?
Chloe: I’m currently in the process of creating our sustainability action plan for 2025 to 2027, which will set out the different initiatives we are planning to implement over the next three years. We also track our energy usage and our greenhouse gas emissions for each site to understand which initiatives have had a positive impact on the business.
TEAM: What role does technology play in your sustainability efforts?
Chloe: Technology is a key enabler. We’re exploring remote-controlled sockets to reduce energy consumption and have already seen benefits from our backwashing machines.
We’re trialling new initiatives like the Trovr machines for recycling plastic bottles, which will align with upcoming legislation and a sustainable recycling project which takes things like swim caps, goggles and pool floats and upcycles them into alternative products like swim shoes, which we then sell at one of our sites.
TEAM: How do you ensure that your team is engaged and supportive of these initiatives?
Chloe: Training and communication are vital. We’ve rolled out carbon literacy training across the organisation, starting with our environmental champions and moving up to the executive team. This training helps everyone understand their role in our sustainability journey and encourages them to contribute ideas for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions. We have had a few really great ideas come from this too as employees must make a pledge on what they would like to implement.
TEAM: It sounds like you have support from the business and senior leadership team. How important is executive support in achieving your goals?
Chloe: Executive support is crucial. Our CEO, Warren Smyth, is very proactive and supportive. He often brings new ideas to the table and is committed to our sustainability goals. This top-down support makes a significant difference in driving our initiatives forward.
TEAM: Finally, what future trends do you see in your sustainability journey?
Chloe: The biggest focus will be on energy efficiency, especially in our pools. We’re exploring various options like heat pumps and CHP units to reduce energy consumption. We’re also looking at ways to enhance our recycling efforts to reduce waste.
The goal is to continuously improve and adapt to new technologies and regulations to ensure we are effectively saving on energy and carbon emissions in a way that works for our business.