From the Ground Up: How The Tradies Cut Energy and Waste

At The Dickson Tradies, we’ve always believed in looking after our community—and that includes caring for the environment we all share. Over the past decade, we’ve been on a steady journey to reduce our impact and operate more sustainably. It began in 2015 with our first baseline energy measurement—and we’ve been building momentum ever since.

It all started with a simple question: how much energy are we really using—and where is it going?

You can’t manage what you can’t measure. So, we installed an energy monitoring system—our first big step—alongside a major upgrade to our building management system. With real-time data and smarter controls, we could finally see how energy was being used across the club. That helped us spot inefficiencies and act on them.

Since then, we’ve identified hundreds of operational savings opportunities—everything from modifying boiler pump operations to reducing HVAC hours and fine-tuning how systems are timed. But one of the most meaningful changes wasn’t technical—it was cultural. Staff began switching things off, asking questions, and treating sustainability as part of everyday life.

From there, we installed rooftop solar panels to generate clean, renewable electricity onsite. We added EV chargers to support our community’s shift to cleaner transport. And most recently, we fully electrified our café kitchen—saying goodbye to gas and upgrading to energy-efficient induction equipment across the board.

A huge help in making these projects happen was support from the Community Clubs Program, which has provided funding for community clubs to carry out building energy efficiency upgrades since October 2021. It’s made a real difference here at The Tradies. These were the kinds of changes that made sense—good for the planet, good for the club.

Waste has been another big focus. We introduced clearer bin systems, fully recyclable takeaway cups, and organic waste bins that divert around 260kg of food scraps and coffee grounds each week. We now divert more than 9,000 bottles and 10.4 cubic metres of mixed recyclables from landfill every month. Overall, our waste to landfill has dropped by more than 50%—a result we’re incredibly proud of.

Much of this work has been led by our Facilities Manager, Steven Blakemore. Steven’s practical leadership and deep commitment have helped turn ideas into outcomes—quietly guiding our progress and inspiring a culture shift across the club.

This year, Steven’s setting the bar even higher:

“My goal for 2025 is to get us to 90% of our waste diverted from landfill,” he says. “It’s a big number, but hey—we like a challenge. We’ve come a long way already, and if we all keep pitching in, I reckon we’ll get there. One less bin bag at a time!”

Steven’s also keen to share what we’ve learned along the way:

“If there are any local businesses out there who are curious about how we’ve done it—our bin systems, our tracking, what’s worked and what hasn’t—reach out,” he says. “We’re more than happy to show you around. This is something we can all do, and it’s even better when we do it together.”

Thanks to this collective effort, over a 10-year period and as of May 2025, we’ve reduced electricity use by 38.4% and gas use by 60.1%. We’ve also seen major cost savings—allowing us to reinvest members’ money back into their club and their communities.

We were honoured to receive awards for Inspirational Leadership and Waste Minimisation at the Climate Choices Business Awards. But the real reward is knowing we’re doing right by our members, our staff, and our future.

There’s still more to come. But if the last ten years have taught us anything, it’s that real change happens when a community works together—one smart decision at a time.