In Chambers Bay, Washington there is a sustainable golf course. But what is that, what does that mean? Our first thought is they must recycle rain water to water the grass, they must use solar panels to recharge the golf carts, etc.. Wrong, here’s the thing, we are thinking inside the box.
We had a meeting at CBS where we met Patricia Plackett, Nis Back, and Mas Wadstrohm. They provided an inspiration idea that change the way I think about addressing sustainability, they showed me how to think outside the box.
These are the Inspiration ideas
-rethinking services products and process
-reducing size
-using natural resources more effectively
-reusing waste materials creatively
The golf course falls under the idea of “Rethinking services, products and process”.
Chambers Bay Golf Course (Chambers Bay) is an 928 acre, 18-hole links-style golf course that spans two miles of Puget Sound shoreline, three miles of forested creek canyon and 650 acres of former gravel mines.
A empty, wasted gravel mine was turned into a golf course. This is sustainable! We are not cutting down a forest, clearing fields or leveling buildings to built a fancy golf course. We are reusing, or better, repurposing abandoned land. It doesn’t end there, they further go on a implement what my “in the box” thinking was. habitat restoration, walking-only course, reduction in the need for watering, fertilizing and mowing through turf mixture, irrigation from reclaimed water, and several more.
Furthermore this will stand to remind future generations that the blight of industry can be healed in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner.
Denmark Business-Focused Energy Study Tour 