We’re very conscious of our energy use at the Hall – there is no mains gas supply and any electricity is expensive. We switched to Good Energy some while ago on ethical grounds – its energy is 100% renewable. So our energy footprint is close to zero. But not our costs.

This page fleshes out what we’ve done to improve energy efficiency and clean generation. what we’re hoping for… and what may yet be done when funding permits.

Energy efficiency

Done
The cavity block walls have been filled with mineral fibre.
All the windows are double-glazed.
The profiled, steel-skinned roof contains 100mm of high-efficiency insulation.

All this has (roughly) halved our energy use – but not our costs, because tariffs keep rising (even from Good Energy).

So we have a strategy running in parallel for local generation and storage…

Energy generation & storage

Solar pv
In September 2016, just before the government’s cuts to community tariff took effect, we installed and commissioned 9.8kWp of solar pv. The tariff is good. But most of our power goes straight to  the grid. Storage will help us get more local benefit.

Battery storage
A battery storage system would enable us to use our solar to power 90% of our non-energy use through the whole year. We need £9,500 to do that project. It would save us £450/year, from day one. And more if we cook more.

Renewable heating
To achieve savings on heating we will need to replace our 54-year old system with one that it classified as ‘renewable’. — An air-source heat pump is the preferred option. This would send heated water to new radiators throughout the building and enable us to claim the renewable heat incentive for every unit of heat we generate.

At the moment, we have not approved this project. It will cost around £16,000 and we do not have that money. We are looking into ways of funding it, prompted perhaps by the fact that one of the six heaters has recently failed. We are hoping to start (and finish) the project before the government withdraws the renewable heat incentive get the best financial benefit.

What can you do? (did I hear you ask!)
Keep your ear to the ground for suitable grants… and generous donors.
Point them to our Donations page which gives details.
Contact the Treasurer if you think he can help you in any way.

Or failing all else… drop a penny in the hat on our Donations page !