The evergreen 72-year-old, who has been involved at the club for over 40 years, said: “Having solar panels on the roof wasn’t something we could initially afford. But we applied for National Lottery funding, got the green light and installed them about a month ago. Our next thing on the sustainability front is instead of fitting two new boilers, we’d look at installing heat pumps to generate warm air from drawing water up from under the ground. Sustainability works in two ways. Your carbon footprint is in positive mode – and you’re helping the club financially and saving the business money.”
“We are so pleased to be part of this video series, inspiring people to be more green. My message to other rugby clubs would be to just do it. Being environmentally-friendly can save a club thousands of pounds a year and is very easy to do. Why wouldn’t you want to do it?”
The National Lottery’s research reveals 73 per cent of us have used more electricity during the pandemic, while a third admit they have had the heating on more than ever before.
But almost half still reckon the world will be a greener place for future generations, with many admitting they will change their habits for the better after lockdown.
The National Lottery has invested more than £2.2bn in green projects and initiatives across heritage, art, community and sport since 2010 – and TV naturalist and environmental campaigner Chris Packham is urging the public to be greener in light of its recent research.
Pentyrch’s video, available to watch now via https://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/stories/planetary-promise , and via National Lottery Good Causes social channels, was one of two educational deep-dive features to raise awareness around the importance of saving the planet, with TV comedian Rosie Ramsey starring in three extra DIY workshops with other Lottery-funded charities.
Pentyrch’s video showcases how the club have used innovative environmental methods to navigate their way through the pandemic.
Gareth has coached the club’s junior sides, worked as a kitman and run the line at Pentyrch and has also watched his grandson Hari, nine, ply his trade on the club’s storied 138-year-old fields.
He lives, sleeps and breathes the rugby club and hailed National Lottery players for enabling it to thrive.
Gareth, whose son Hywel, 42, and daughter-in-law Becky, 41, live in Pentyrch with children Hari and Erin, 15, added: “A lot of people don’t realise what the benefits of buying a National Lottery ticket are. Even if you don’t win, like myself and my wife, people don’t always realise that you’re donating to a charity as well as trying to win some money. The National Lottery give so many millions to so many organisations. I don’t see us having been able to afford our solar panels, or be as sustainable as we have been, without National Lottery grants.”
The National Lottery is encouraging the public to make a vital contribution to the future of our planet by making a #PlanetaryPromise on social media between Monday 19th April – 23rd April. The #PlanetaryPromise is a chance for you to do your bit for the environment by making a conscious commitment to either start or stop something that could be helping or harming our planet.
