AMF Bowling strikes with energy savings

Leisure Report, May, 2008

AMF Bowling, one of the largest operators of tenpin bowling centres in the UK, has recuited IMServ, the energy data management specialist, to reduce the organisation's energy usage at its 33 bowling complexes and head office, to both increase profitability and help it demonstrate a stronger environmental commitment.

As is common in many leisure operations, AMF Bowling uses an abundance of energy in its operations--a vast proportion of which is for heating and lighting. With rising energy costs, the organisation found its predicted overheads for electricity and gas in excess of 1.5m [pounds sterling] for 2006/07, an increase of 50% on the previous year's figures.

AMF is now using IMServ's advanced energy data management system, Energy DataVision (EDV), to gain a comprehensive view of the total energy being used across the whole business. The online tool delivers energy intelligence and management data to the company within 24 hours of consuming the energy--meaning that educated energy decisions can be made quickly.

"We have identified some alarming anomalies", said George PeelAMF's health and safety manager. "At one complex we found that between 6am-8am every day of the week there was an exceptionally high peak in energy usage; a time when only the cleaners are in the premises. On some days this peak accounted for the highest energy consumption throughout the whole day. We're now rectifying this so we can reduce and better plan our energy."

Through a focused approach to energy, AMF Bowling is also demonstrating a stronger commitment to its environmental policy. With annual energy costs for the hospitality sector in excess of 1bn [pounds sterling], resulting in CO2 emissions 12.5 million tonnes a year, the company aims to be at the vanguard of 'green' leisure operations.