Cleanfi Oy
Our golf course carbon footprint calculator quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions caused by a single golf player or the entire golf course.
The results of this report can be used in decreasing the carbon footprint and energy costs of your golf club.
A general approach to achieving carbon neutrality (Defra 2009, Guidance on carbon neutrality, Department of Energy and Climate change, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs):
- (1) Estimate greenhouse gas emissions,
- (2) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- (3) Compensate (offset) remaining emissions to achieve carbon neutral status.
- (2) should precede (3).
We do not compensate or give climate neutrality certificates; we do not greenwash. We think items (2) and (3) are the most important. We also think that golf courses, vegetation and soil, are not carbon sinks and hence cannot compensate emissions.
Practically all greenhouse gas emissions are taken into account by calculating the whole life cycle for the following:
- Electricity. The greenhouse gas emissions of the electricity used is calculated first by defining the electricity mix (percentages of coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, wind etc and the CHP shares of each of them) and calculating the cradle to gate emissions of the electricity mix used. We can calculate this from the information you give (e.g. electricity provider, location). The source of electricity has a tremendous effect on the carbon footprint of the golf course. On-shore wind electricity has a carbon footprint of 10 g CO2-eqv/kWhe while coal electricity's carbon footprint is 1000 g CO2-eqv/kWhe. We use our proprietary carbon footprint calculator for electricity.
- Heating. We have a wide life-cycle inventory covering virtually all heating fuels. We just need the amounts.
- Fuels. We have a wide life-cycle inventory covering virtually all transportation fuels. We just need the amounts.
- Fertilizers and herbicides. The production and use of fertilizers and also herbicides is a source of greenhouse gas emissions. We use the information given by you or the average values from other courses.
- Oils and lubricants. We use the information given by you or the average values from other courses.
- Course construction. Construction of the golf course is an energy-intensive activity and it causes greenhouse gas emissions. The lifetime of a golf course is assumed to be fifty years, and the course construction emissions are thus divided equally through the 50-year lifetime of the course. The emissions are calculated from the inventory, and the input data needed is the size of the golf course (9/18/27/36 etc holes).
- Buildings. The construction of the buildings is a source of greenhouse gas emissions. The lifetime of the buildings is assumed to be fifty years, and the annual emissions are calculated from the inventory values. The input data needed is the total area of the buildings.
- Equipment. We know the machinery of the golf courses – type, number, lifetime, weights. We can estimate them from the size of the course/club (9/18/27/36 etc holes). However, we need the number of golf carts in your club. The greenhouse gas emissions of the materials, manufacturing and maintenance are calculated through the life cycle of the equipment (machinery and golf carts).
- Balls, clubs and accessories. These emissions we calculate, when we know the number of players per year.
- Office paper and scorecards. These emissions we calculate, when we know the number of players per year.
- Sewage and waste. These emissions we calculate, when we know the number of players per year.
- Travelling. The greenhouse gas emissions from travelling to and from the club can also be calculated. For comparison, carbon footprint is calculated for driving to and from the golf course assuming 15 km one-way driving distance using Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI gasoline model including manufacturing of the car.
A player can calculate the carbon footprint of travelling to and from the club and compare it to the carbon footprint of the round of golf using our calculator. The carbon calculator is tailor-made for each club.
An example report: Carbon footprint of an average U.S. golf course
In Finnish: Golfkentän hiilijalanjälkiraportti
For more information about the analysis and report, what data are needed and pricing, please contact us: kimmo.klemola@cleanfi.fi.