Sustainability Matters
The Club is working hard to ensure it operates as sustainably as possible and is developing plans and targets for the future focusing on the three key themes of People, Places and Planet as per our Green Tourism accreditation.
The Sustainability team will be at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show on the morning of Wednesday 18 October and will be sharing what the Club has been doing to be more Sustainable. It would be great to hear if there are any particular questions or topics you would like covered to ensure we can make the update as relevant and interesting as possible.
We would love for you to share your questions and ideas in the comments below to help us shape our plans and future communication to you, the members. Let's start a conversation about sustainability and how we can work together towards a greener future for all. We look forward to hearing from you!
Comments
-
One thing I would like to see is an update on the electricity metering trial and what the thoughts are on it being rolled out across the network and by when?
I am not sure I see much evidence of solar panels being used on toilet blocks and other buildings on Club sites. What is the thinking on this?
When looking to buy new campsites how much attention does the Club pay to sites near to public transport or within easy and safe walking of a town or village? (I I define easy and safe as being within a distance of between half and one mile and along a path rather than a road)
David
6 -
Composters! Some sites may well have then but I can’t say I’ve come across any on our travels and we’ve used quite a few club sites. On our current tour, admittedly not in the UK but that should not matter in this context, we have come across several. One site even handed you a small green bin with a label showing what was permissible and folk were using them, rather than adding the allowed items to landfill.
0 -
"I am not sure I see much evidence of solar panels being used on toilet blocks and other buildings on Club sites. What is the thinking on this?"
i have just recently spent time on a commercial site that is now 95% self sufficient for their electricity needs using solar panels. For many years now the site has used solar panels to heat the indoor swimming pool.
I am sure the capital outlay must be substantial and the site is lucky in that they have available free space for their own solar farm, but i am sure the owners will have done the sums and thought the capital outlay going forward would be a good investment.
I have solar panels, cost £5k some 10 years ago, i believe today the cost is less, so surely their must be some mileage in putting solar panels on the roof of the facilities block as a starter.
0 -
How about being able to choose to delete electric hook up for those who are self sufficient for power? with a discount of course
Electric mowers ? also a quieter option. Heat pumps, solar etc presumably all being explored?
I guess there is a limit cost wise where business sustainability meets environmental sustainability although the greener options are becoming relatively cheaper as take-up accelerates.
0 -
I wonder if the cost is going down very much in view of the price of energy costs going up?
The price of solar panels halved around 12 years ago, when the FIT payments went down which just goes to show how much electrical companies must have been making on fitting them! In view of energy costs going up in the last couple of years, perhaps they have gone back up again as many companies seek to make as much profit as they can, when they can, as we found during Covid with the PPE scandal.
Personally, I am all for sites trying to minimise their costs with solar panels and in vew of the number of CMHC sites, perhaps they could negotiate a good deal if they used the same company.
0 -
Not all sites would be suitable for PV panels, could be too many trees, and it would also depend on which way the roofs faced, unless the panels could be freestanding, but there is certainly scope on several sites. I have seen a few sites with them.
The cost has gone up a bit again since 10 years back, but I would think it would still be a good investment. Small wind turbines could also be considered.
0 -
Think the club has missed a’ P’ out PROFIT
3 -
Hi David, thank you very much for your questions.
The metering trial began in May 2023 and will continue until April 2024. Due to the start date of the trial we currently only have data for the warmer months and are waiting to analyse the data over the winter. So far we have found that there has been a large percentage decrease in the amount of electricity used by those staying on site which has meant an increase in cost savings for those taking part in the trial. We will update this further once the months get colder.
The Club is also actively installing Solar PV onto facility block roofs when we carry out major developments or when it makes sense to do so. Currently, we have 12 sites with Solar PV but this number continues to rise.
We have recently installed a larger array of solar at our Brighton site and once we have analysed the performance we hope to do a wider rollout to more sites.
Our needs for Solar are complex due to the peaks and troughs of energy usage. Most of our energy usage is in the morning or evening while the energy is generated during the day when our members are out and about. Due to this, we need to optimise the solutions to ensure we can store enough energy and those staying on our Club Campsites can use it when needed.
We are also currently designing a solution for Hillhead which is different from many of our sites due to the large entertainment complex with bar, shop, restaurant, and swimming pool.
Regarding new Club Campsites, we work on a set of criteria and score locations that we review (we see many each month). The criteria includes access roads, public transport, cycling and walking routes, access to a village, town, or pub as well as being close to key popular tourist attractions but this is only to name a few as many different criteria are looked at and scored on.
If you have any other questions take a look at our FAQs and sustainability hub.
2 -
Hi Steve, great question. We have looked into composting but composting waste can be complex. The Club works with our waste management provider and within the local authority guidelines which varies from site to site, however, to keep things simple we offer the same waste and recycling processes to our members across the network with the variance in how it is picked up and processed.
Composting is complicated as we have to consider the environment around us and any impact that may have on our members' stay, it's an area we will review on-site and with our waste partners to understand what more can be done safely. It’s easier to manage on a single household basis rather than a location with multiple visitors to the site due to contamination and the amount collected.
In 2022, our diversion to landfill rate was 97.2% meaning only 2.8% of the waste generated on our sites ended up in landfill. We are working with our waste providers to reduce this even further.
If you have any other questions please remember to check our FAQs and sustainability hub.
0 -
These are some really good points and areas the Club is looking into. The Club is actively installing Solar PV onto facility block roofs when we carry out major developments or when it makes sense to do so. Currently, we have 12 sites with Solar PV but this number continues to rise.
Our needs for Solar are complex due to the peaks and troughs of energy usage. Most of our energy usage is in the morning or evening while the energy is generated during the day when our members are out and about. Due to this we need to optimise the solutions to ensure we can store enough energy and sites can use it when needed.
We are also currently designing a solution for Hillhead which is different to many of our sites due to the large entertainment complex with bar, shop, restaurant and swimming pool.
If you have any other questions please remember to check our FAQs and sustainability hub.
0 -
A non electric saver trial is underway at 3 sites over the winter months allowing members at Clumber Park, Burrs Country Park and Chatsworth to book any pitch and receive a discount for not hooking up. If this is successful it may be rolled out more widely in 2024.
www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/useful-information/smart-metering-trial/
The Club is moving towards use of electric equipment on site, be it electric buggies, mowers and leaf blowers, this will be a slow process and the move will be made as equipment fails.The Club is also using air source heat pumps to provide space heating and heat recovery on toilet block ventilation systems. We are also busy investigating and assessing options for pre-heating hot water.
0 -
This is a very good point and something the Club is looking into. We have solar panel providers but we need to find a cost effective solution for the battery needed to store the energy generated.
You can stay up to date with solar and other renewables on our sustainability hub and sustainability FAQs.
0 -
Thank you for your points. You are very true and this is why roll out of solar is slow as we understand how best to optimise each site. Due to visitors using the energy in the morning and evening when light is limited we need to understand the usage better to ensure we install the correct size and can use all the energy generated.
Wind turbines were trialled at one of our sites however, we found the energy generated was not cost effective vs the cost of the infrastructure.
If you have any other questions please remember to check our FAQs and sustainability hub.
0 -
The Caravan and Motorhome Club is run with our members in mind and any surplus is invested back into the Club. Over the past 5 years the annual investment in the site network has been £12.8 million and we ensure this investment has our members at the forefront of any decision making.
If you have any other questions please remember to check our FAQs and sustainability hub.0 -
Hi Rowena
Thanks for getting back to us on this subject with some pretty comprehensive answers. I was particularly struct by what you said about the consumption of electricity going down when a site has a metering set up. I assume the Club have been doing some exit surveys on members who have stayed at these sites to see how habits have changed? We know from the AGM questions that the energy bill for sites was a massive figure so if energy savings via metering result in lower use then hopefully this will in future be more accurately reflected in site fees?
David
3 -
Indeed, the more individuals and companies, including the C&MC do this the less our country becomes fossil fuel and foreign energy supplier dependant. Must be a win win for members, our country and the environment. Certainly would enhance the profile of the club’s green credential.
0 -
A non electric saver trial is underway at 3 sites over the winter months allowing members at Clumber Park, Burrs Country Park and Chatsworth to book any pitch and receive a discount for not hooking up. If this is successful it may be rolled out more widely in 2024.
How come the Club has only now decided they can do this and what is the discount?
peedee
0 -
I think the Club are trialling a few ideas PD, all those three sites are luckily not far from us, so depending on the discount, it could be a goer for us.
Have you had the first night free email yet? This does sound good, only for a couple of months, but brings the nightly average down well for a short stay for us. I have started a thread about this.
0 -
Hi David,
We have been completing exit surveys and also been analysing the amount of electricity used when compared to those who are not on a metered connection. Those taking part in the trial are saving money due to the decreased pitch fees and the amount of electricity used. We are excited to see whether this continues in the colder months.
We will update on the trial once we have analysed all of the findings in 2024.
Thanks again David.
1 -
The Club has looked into this and unfortunately it's just not viable at the moment. We will continue to review as we install future Solar arrays and if this becomes more viable in the future it will definitely be something we will consider.
0 -
Due to visitors using the energy in the morning and evening when light is limited we need to understand the usage better to ensure we install the correct size and can use all the energy generated.
I would have thought that an ideal scenario for having battery storage. Top up batteries during the day for use in the dark hours and early morning. That is how mine works but I can appreciate the Club would need quite large storage facilities to have a real impact.
peedee
0 -
As a domestic customer, with Octopus as our supplier, who also do commercial supplies, we can sell our solar excess to the grid at 15p per kWh, is it different for commercial generators?
We have a 3.6 kWpeak array, as permitted back then, installed some 11 years back, anything we do not use ourselves is exported to the grid. We do also receive very good FIT payments, but set against that, solar panels were much more expensive then than they are now.
Why would fitting large solar arrays, with batteries, and exporting any excess to the grid not be viable for the Club?
My OH looks after our local Guide Hall, they are applying for funding from the Energy Saving Trust and the Scottish Government to install insulation. But they could also have applied for funding to install solar panels, and have sold their excess to the grid.
,
1 -
I think there's solar water heating at Ramslade and Poolsbrook micky. I think!
JK
0 -
Why isn't the reduction for using a meter the same as for not using electric at all.
surely the base price should be the same??
Month of stay
Average daily priceOctober 2023
£5
November 2023
£8
December 2023
£8
January 2024
£8
February 2024
£9
March 2024
£5Month
Pitch discount per night
October
£4.00
November
£6.00
December
£6.50
January
£6.50
February
£6.00
March
£4.001 -
Fortunately, CY, we’re not all of that mentality. Metered lekky will make no difference to my consumption as I’m not profligate in my usage and happy to pay for what I use. I suspect many other people are the same and you may be doing your fellow members a great injustice.
3 -
Just maybe we would see far fewer of those dreadful light masts and other colour flashing paraphernalia adorning pitches which spoil the dark skys the club are promoting!
I’d rather see the stars, the constellations and those fabulous aurora borealis which apparently are showing across our skies any ‘day’!
2 -
I don't understand CY, if you don't want an all you can eat buffet then why go to such a place, there are other options available, or do as you do and not even visit any campsite where possible.
As one who likes all inclusive holidays with all inclusive drinks (as you must do as well going on those cruises) I've never seen people over indulging.
1
