Switching Off for Change
Across its many varied facets of operations, the Club upholds its sustainable initiatives with pride and responsiveness. Staying true to its commitment to go green on multiple fronts, the Club is once again participating in Earth Hour, the global movement organised by the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) to raise awareness of environmental challenges and encourage action against climate change. From 8:30 to 9:30pm on 23 March, all Off-Course Betting Branches (OCBBs) will be switching off all facade and signage lightings, as they have done in previous years.
Currently, OCBBs contribute to approximately 10% of the Club’s overall electricity consumption in its Hong Kong operations. To put it in perspective, the total amount of electricity consumed at the Club’s OCBBs in the 2022/23 racing season was around 19,600,000 kWh.
Beyond Earth Hour, the Club is also implementing active measures for a change for the better. Since 2019, the Retail department has invested in a wide range of lighting replacements with a goal to optimise energy conservation across the Club’s Hong Kong operations. These include upgrading lighting facilities to LEDs in 39 OCBBs to date, as well as an overhaul of LED lighting in the Betting Halls, back offices and outdoor areas. With these enhancements, the projected annual electricity consumption savings from our lighting facilities will be 594,000 kWh by June 2024.
The Club also remains dedicated to complying with both existing and upcoming environmental legislation, such as the Municipal Waste Charging and Product Eco-Responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2023. Starting 2016, the Club has pledged to the HKSAR Government’s Charter on External Lighting by consistently switching off all external lighting installations after midnight to mitigate light pollution.
By participating in Earth Hour and other initiatives to reduce electricity consumption, the Club is supporting the Hong Kong Government's efforts to reduce carbon emissions, inspiring other to work collectively to protect our planet for future generations.