News
Above : The Polesden Lacey estate in Surrey
Trust ’ s Polesden Lacey goes green with new biomass boiler
Work has started on the installation of a new , eco-friendly biomass boiler at Polesden Lacey in Surrey . The boiler will burn wood chips instead of oil , producing one tenth of the CO ² emissions that are produced by the current oil-fired system . The National Trust ( NT ) has employed sustainable energy experts Baystar to deliver the energy solutions for the estate with completion of the project due in Q1 2017 . It ’ s the second of several installations planned for London and the South East as part of the NT ’ s national “ Renewable Energy Investment Programme ”. In 2009 , the NT set itself a target to reduce the use of fossil fuels for heat and electricity by 50 % by 2020 . Polesden Lacey is one of the largest uses of oil in the charity ’ s London and South East region . The Trust is investing £ 500,000 to install the new boiler and remove the old oil tank . It ’ s expected that the income generated from the Renewable Energy Incentive Scheme will pay back this investment within 12 years . Polesden Lacey has been reliant on up to 60,000 litres of oil per year to heat the historic house . Climate control is vitally important within the house for the conservation of the museum-quality items
6 | www . renewableenergyinstaller . co . uk in the collection , which can be adversely affected by humidity levels . The biomass system will remove the property ’ s dependence on oil and generate 897,000kWh of energy , which will heat not only the house , but also the café , gardener ’ s office and four cottages . This will remove the environmental risk of an oil pollution incident , and save around 157 tonnes of CO ² from escaping into the atmosphere . Increasing levels of CO ² are known to be a major factor contributing to climate change . The project aspires to source woodchip from the Polesden Lacey estate and surrounding properties in the future . The aim is to become self-sufficient in terms of our fuel supply by creating a sustainable heating source . The new heating system isn ’ t the only way the team at Polesden Lacey are working to reduce their CO ² emissions . Over the past six years the property has halved its energy demands , by upgrading eth Building Management System controlling heating in the house and through a range of simple measures that anyone could adopt in their own home . For example : saving energy installing draft proofing to windows and doors .
Schweizer targets UK solar market to build distribution network
Ernst Schweizer AG , a leading metal engineering company serving the construction industry , is boosting its presence in the UK solar photovoltaic market with the launch of its MSP range of advanced solar mounting systems in a drive to recruit distribution partners . The Swiss company has identified growing demand for its advanced rooftop solar mounting systems among EPC contractors , property developers , housebuilders , commercial construction companies and installers . The company has an office in Reigate , Surrey , from where it supports UK customers on both new-build and refurbishment projects . Schweizer believes that rather than reducing long-term demand for renewable energy , cuts to Government incentives will boost interest in self-consumption among electricity users such as offices , manufacturers and cold-storage facilities and also home owners , driven by the need to lower electricity bills and reduce carbon footprint . Martyn Johnson , Schweizer Sales Manager , UK and Ireland , said : “ Solar is growing strongly everywhere and it ’ s important that UK suppliers know about the quality and cost benefits of our marketleading MSP range . We would like to hear from electrical wholesalers , installers , distributors and others who may be interested as we ’ re confident that for many , we can help drive their businesses forward .”
School protest
Pupils from the Eleanor Palmer Primary school in Camden , London , have visited the Treasury with a petition from 200,000 people asking the Treasury ahead of the Budget to drop a business rate tax hike that threatens their school solar project and to invest in solar technology , not penalise it .