| Abstract/Contents: | "GCSAA's Golf Course Environmental Profile is a data collection project that provides new insight into the property features, management practices and inputs associated with golf courses across the United States. Energy Use and Energy Conservation Practices on U.S. Golf Courses is the fourth report produced from the project. The first, Property Profile and Environmental Stewardship of Golf Courses, was released in November 2007. The second report was Water Use and Conservation Practices on U.S. Golf Courses (2009), and the third report was Nutrient Use and Management on U.S. Golf Courses (2009). The objectives of this survey were to quantify electricity used, fuel used for heating and other purposes, fuel used for equipment and vehicles, and conservation practices at golf facilities in the U.S. and its agronomic regions. This report provides an accurate portrayal of energy use and conservation practices on golf courses in the U.S. It establishes a baseline that can be compared to data from future surveys to identify change over time. Methodology: Superintendents at all golf facilities (16,285) were invited to participate in the survey. A total of 1,563 golf facilities participated in the survey accounting for 9.6% of the total. Analysis of the completed surveys indicated a representative sample of the golf facilities in the U.S. had been received with the exception of facility type (daily fee, municipal or private). Private facilities accounted for 39% of the returned surveys but made up approximately 30% of golf facilities. Therefore, proportions of the collected sample were weighted to resemble known golf course demographics. The data were analyzed and compared across facility types, maintenance budgets and agronomic regions. Results: Respondents were asked to report energy use for the entire facility including the clubhouse, pump station, maintenance facility and other buildings and amenities. In addition, they were asked to identify their energy conservation practices. Highlights of energy use and conservation practices are listed below. Electricity: Total electricity use in 2008 for all U.S. golf facilities was estimated at 6.714 billion kilowatt-hours (kwh).; The average use was 448,123 kwh of electricity per 18-hole facility in 2008.; An 18-hole golf facility in the U.S. has an average of five separate electric meters.; The Southeast agronomic region accounted for the greatest total electricity use per agronomic region at 1.9 billion kwh. This is due to the large number of golf facilities and year-round golf.; The Pacific region accounted for the lowest total electricity use at 0.2 billion kwh because of the lower number of golf facilities in this region. Propane: The estimated total use of propane for all U.S. golf facilities was 17 million gallons in 2008.; Forty-five percent of 18-hole golf facilities used propane in 2008. The average use was 2,528 gallons per 18-hole golf facility.; The Northeast region used the greatest amount of propane at 5.9 million gallons.; The Southwest region used the least amount of propane at 0.4 million gallons.; Natural gas: The estimated total use of natural gas for all U.S. golf facilities was 17.5 million Mcf in 2008 (1 Mcf=1,000 cubic feet).; Forty-one percent of 18-hole golf facilities used natural gas in 2008. The average use was 2,856 Mcf per 18-hole golf facility.; The North Central region used the greatest amount of natural gas at 5.9 million Mcf in 2008.; The Pacific region used the least amount of natural gas at 0.5 million Mcf. Heating oil: The estimated total use of heating oil for all U.S. golf facilities was 4.4 million gallons in 2008.; Nine percent of average 18-hole golf facilities used heating oil in 2008, and they used an estimated 2,273 gallons per facility.; The Northeast region used the most heating oil (2.8 million gallons) in 2008.; Survey participants in the Southwest region did not use heating oil.; The Pacific, Upper West/Mountain and Southeast regions consumed less than 100,000 gallons of heating oil per region in 2008. Fuel for equipment and vehicles: The estimated total use of gasoline for all U.S. golf facilities was 77 million gallons in 2008.; The estimated total use of diesel for all U.S. golf facilities was 50.4 million gallons in 2008.; Nearly all 18-hole golf facilities used gasoline; average consumption was 5,192 gallons.; Ninety-seven percent of average 18-hole golf facilities used diesel; average consumption was 3,467 gallons.; Golf facilities in the Southeast region used the greatest amount of gasoline (21.7 million gallons) and diesel (12.9 million gallons) in 2008. Golf facilities in the Pacific region used the least amount of gasoline (2.3 million gallons) and diesel (2.0 million gallons) in 2008. Written plans and energy audits: Six percent of 18-hole golf facilities had a written energy conservation plan.; Between 2004 and 2009, 15% of 18-hole golf facilities conducted an energy audit.; As the maintenance budget or number of holes increased, the likelihood of having a written energy conservation plan or conducting an energy audit also increased.; Average 18-hole golf facilities in the Pacific region (10%) were more likely to have a written energy conservation plan than facilities in the other regions.; Average 18-hole golf facilities in the Southwest (23%) were more likely to have conducted an energy audit than facilities in the other regions (9%-17%). Behavioral, design and other conservation changes: Three percent of 18-hole golf facilities had at least one building that was certified through LEED or a similar green building program.; Seventy-seven percent of 18-hole golf facilities had incorporated one or more behavioral changes to conserve energy. Examples include turning down thermostats in the winter, replacing filters in a timely manner and charging equipment during non-peak hours.; Seventy-one percent of 18-hole golf facilities had incorporated one or more design, physical, or mechanical changes to conserve energy. Examples of design, physical, or mechanical changes include the use of Energy Star-rated furnaces, programmable thermostats, efficient water heater, low-flow faucets, irrigation controller updates and T-8 lighting. Changes to enhance energy conservation were most common in the heating and cooling system and the golf course irrigation system. Renewable energy use: Less than 5% of golf facilities purchased green electricity or energy credits, mainly because they were unaware of programs that offer them.; Less than 2% of facilities were generating power on-site with alternative or renewable resources such as solar or wind technologies. Solar for electricity was the most common source used followed by wind, hydro and geothermal. Future research: To compare gasoline and diesel use on golf courses, researchers at the University of California-Irvine (10,11) estimated fuel use on a per-acre basis for the maintenance of a city-owned park in Irvine, Calif. According to that research, an average 18-hole golf course uses approximately 30% more gasoline and diesel fuel per acre on a national basis than the Irvine city park. This difference is likely due to the higher maintenance requirements of specific areas of the golf course, maintenance of other landscape plants, more diverse equipment types, different mowing heights and patterns, and other varying agronomic practices on golf courses. To address the issues raised by the Irvine research, additional national and regional research should be conducted to segregate the use of energy within different facets of the golf course facility, including irrigation pumping stations, maintenance buildings, equipment, specific turgfrass and landscape maintenance practices, clubhouse and amenities. Recommendation and conclusions: This survey is the first attempt to examine energy use on golf courses on a national basis. The objective was to investigate energy use on a macro level for all energy inputs for the entire facility. The following recommendations address areas of improvement for the golf course industry highlighted by the survey results.: Golf facilities should routinely document energy use across all operations and identify opportunities for conversation.; All golf facilities should conduct an energy audit.; Using the results of the energy audit and documentation about energy use, all golf facilities should develop a written energy conservation plan and implement the plan.; At this time of this study, few golf facilities used energy from renewable sources or purchased green energy credits. Golf facilities should strive to purchase energy from renewable sources when available.; Few golf facilities generated energy from on-site sources, but this may be a viable option in the future. The land space and natural resources available on golf course properties could lend themselves to energy generation as technology becomes available and costs decrease.; Additional national and regional research should be conducted to segregate the use of energy within different facets of the golf course facility, including irrigation pumping stations, maintenance buildings, equipment, specific turfgrass and landscape maintenance practices, clubhouse and amenities." |
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| See Also: | See also related book, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Property Profile and Environmental Stewardship of Golf Courses: Volume I - [Full Report], 2007, R=144966. R=144966
See also related book, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Water Use and Conservation Practices on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume II - [Full Report], 2009, R=144968. R=144968
See also related book, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Nutrient Use and Management on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume III - [Full Report], 2009, R=158563. R=158563
See also related booklet, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Pesticide Use on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume V, 2012, R=233472. R=233472 |
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