Water consumption
Water consumption is a very important factor in the management of a golf course, especially in the Canary Islands where water is a scarce resource.
In Golf del Sur we water the lawn with regenerated water. In this way, when reusing residual water we avoid consuming potable water in the irrigation system and take advantage of a very important resource given the characteristics of the climatology of our territory.
To reduce the consumption of regenerated water we have implemented a series of measures in this regard. The adjustment of sprinklers is essential to avoid water losses. Also the replacement of pipes is an important factor to avoid possible leaks.
One of the most important measures implemented in recent years has been the installation of the irrigation management program LYNX, which allows us to optimize water resources. Simultaneously, a weather station has been installed, which connected to the LYNX program, provides us with detailed information on the weather conditions, which facilitates the adjustment of the irrigation according to the real needs of the field.
Our consumption of drinking water in the Club House has been limited to the maximum by reducing the capacity of our cisterns, installing double push buttons in the toilets, betting on taps with aerators or approving a system to detect water leaks.
In the Clubhouse a water softener has been installed with the intention of offering a higher quality of water to our customers. Another advantage offered by this interesting initiative is the energy savings achieved, since lime is a thermal insulator, so adhering to our thermos or dishwasher entails an excess of energy consumption to heat the water.
Finally, we must emphasize the meticulous control of water consumption that we carry out in the field in order to detect possible anomalies in the system, thus avoiding losses and leaks.
Energy consumption
Energy consumption is a factor that requires strict control within our golf course.
Within the measures that we have implemented in Golf del Sur to reduce energy consumption we can mention the installation of low consumption LED technology, the installation of fluorescent tubes without primers, the installation of capacitor banks to avoid energy losses and the replacement of Resistances for heat pumps with more modern accumulators.
One of the most important elements that has contributed to reduce our energy consumption has been the replacement of old pumps with more modern pumps, controlled by variable speed drives, which, together with the implementation of the LYNX irrigation management and the weather station, reduces the energy consumption of the pumps.
We state that more than 20% of the energy we consume comes from renewable sources, according to our marketer.
Paper consumption
Taking into account the administrative work within our activity,
the control of paper consumption becomes fundamental.
One of the measures that we have put in place to save paper has been the application of practices of responsible consumption of paper: the reuse of the second side of the paper used for the printing of drafts or internal documentation, the double-sided printing or the sensitization of our staff to avoid printing unnecessary documentation.
The consumption of certified paper with environmental stamps is another measure implemented in Golf del Sur.
Dangerous residues
The golf courses are associated with the production of hazardous waste: packaging and traces of phytosanitary products, workshop products, batteries and accumulators, fluorescent tubes, etc.
In Golf del Sur we manage all the hazardous waste that we produce with authorized managers, thus guaranteeing the correct management of the same.
Urban waste
Like hazardous waste, the production of urban waste must be controlled.
In Golf del Sur we separate our urban waste: paper / cardboard, containers and glass, and deposit them in their corresponding containers. With this action we make sure that all these residues, instead of ending up in the insular landfill, acquire a second life.
Finally, Golf del Sur also contributes to the reuse of their pruning remains by delivering these residues to farmers, reusing them as a fertilizer for their fields. In addition, we collaborate with pilot projects of transformation in compost of urban waste.
Use of phytosanitary products
The use of phytosanitary products, as in any crop, is essential in the care of the lawn of a golf course.
To minimize the damages related to the application of phytosanitary products in the soil and in the environment, we have developed a responsible purchasing policy by selecting the product according to its toxicity. All this together with the involvement of the gardening staff with their training and qualification captained by our greenkeeper, thus ensuring a correct application of this type of product, minimizing its use to the maximum.
Environmental legislation
One of the requirements that requires the implementation of ISO 14.001 to pass the certification process is
compliance with all legal requirements applicable to our sector. In this way, with the certification of the standard in 2004 we have been
guaranteeing for more than a decade compliance with the legal requirements that are applicable to us: atmospheric emissions, fire protection system control, correct use of phytosanitary products, correct management of waste, application of a control system against Legionella bacteria, periodic reviews of our low voltage installations, etc.