Surf Life Saving Australia has announced a ground-breaking program to reduce energy use and carbon emissions at Surf Life Saving clubs across Australia.

The program will launch at Point Leo and North Bondi Surf Life Saving Clubs on the 26th June, before expanding to seven additional locations across NSW, Queensland and Victoria. The program is supported by emission reduction program Zero Positive.

Funded by the Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund, the program will allow the not-for-profit to reduce energy costs redirecting funds towards their mission of saving lives across the country.

The energy and fuel use of the club will be assessed through digital metering, internal surveys, education, analysis and reporting. The North Bondi and Point Leo clubs will install a digital metre this week with Zero Positive to collate and analyse data received over the next month. This data will feed into an action plan to establish carbon emission reduction targets and activate cost-saving opportunities around the country.

An education program in carbon literacy will be rolled out for staff, volunteers and stakeholders to assist the clubs in reducing, certifying and offsetting its carbon emissions.

Surf Life Saving Australia president John Baker ESM says the drive to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint was led by the passion of the 190,000 Surf Life Saving Club members around the country.

“We are proud to be initiating a carbon emission reduction project to reduce our organisation’s carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices. Thanks to the generosity of donors to the Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund for making this possible.”

This is the third initiative funded by the newly established Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund.

“The Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund offers our valued community members the opportunity to contribute to the movement via innovative ideas to solve real problems,” John Baker ESM says.

“The Innovation Fund gives our donors specific projects where they can direct their donations, giving a clear picture of the difference their support is making.”

To find out more about the Surf Life Saving Innovation Fund, visit slsinnovation.com.au To find out more about Zero Positive, visit zeropositive.org/