Leisure operator, Bowlplex, is reducing its carbon footprint in all 16 of its family entertainment centres, including Basingstoke, with the implementation of a number of energy saving schemes.

With the help of partners including the Carbon Trust, Dorset Resource Efficiency Club and Powertech Solar, Bowlplex is working hard to further reduce its environmental impact.

In 2007 over £10,000 was invested in changing 34% of the company’s light bulbs to low energy bulbs saving 206 tonnes of CO2. This year a further 35% of all lighting will be replaced and by 2009 all Bowlplex centres will have low energy bulbs.

Ben Carne, Bowlplex safety, health and environment manager said:

It is a priority of Bowlplex to reduces its carbon footprint, making all of the centres ‘greener’.

The implementation of the low energy lighting is just the start of the plan to make Bowlplex a greener company, reducing our impact on the environment. Bowlplex is investing £33k on low energy lighting, which will save tonnes of CO2 every year and all centres use 100% renewable energy supplied by EDF Energy. We are also looking at improving building management control systems and the recycling of all cardboard and glass is currently under review.

Trialling in our Tower Park, Poole centre is the heat exchange system. This takes hot air away from the grill and uses the energy to heat the hot water and pumps cold air in to keep the centre cool. If the system is proved to be successful we will look at running this out over all 16 Bowlplex centres.

Bowlplex continually looks at different way to reduces its carbon footprint and we will carry forward ideas that help to make all 16 entertainment centres as green as possible.”

Bowlplex has 16 total entertainment centres located across the UK providing families with a number of leisure facilities including ten-pin bowling, arcade technology in Video World, Ticket Town - fun redemption games for children, the late-licensed Stadium Sports Bar, grill and the American Pool Pit.