Town are seeking to improve the air quality at Portman Road and at their Playford Road training ground by using Shell GTL (gas to liquids) in their mowers and tractors rather than diesel.
"We believe that the club - and our neighbours - will benefit from adopting an odourless fuel with lower emissions that can reduce noise levels in engines,” Town’s head groundsman, Ben Connell, whoseTurf Journal can be found here, told the club site.""
"The ground staff work with machinery all day and we were conscious of how regular diesel emissions may have been affecting their health and wellbeing.
"Furthermore, the training ground is surrounded by a number of residential properties and we felt a responsibility to minimise the environmental impact on the local community. Shell GTL fuel was an ideal solution.
"I think the highest praise we can give Shell GTL fuel is that we haven’t noticed it at all. It’s been business as usual since we made the switch from diesel: no operational issues, no teething problems - completely seamless.”
Nitrogen oxide levels have been shown to be reduced by up to 37 per cent and particulate matter emissions by up to 90 per cent - both of which are released by diesel combustion engines impacting human health - by using Shell GTL, which is also free of unwanted components such as sulphur, metals and aromatics.
Leigh Claridge, regional commercial manager at Certas Energy, said: "We were very excited by the opportunity to partner with Ipswich Town Football Club.
"Not only due to the heritage and stature of the club, but because of its innovative and forward-thinking approach to improving air quality for staff and local communities alike. "
"As the first carbon neutral football club in the UK - as well as its ‘green’ collaborations with the likes of E.ON, DEFRA and the University of East Anglia - Shell GTL fuel is the ideal solution to support its future environmental initiatives.”