Thursday October 10 2024
Swindon & Wiltshire News
Chippenham-based energy provider Good Energy is helping the National Trust to get green power into 43 of its historic properties.
The charity aims to halve its consumption of fossil fuels and generate 50 percent of its energy from renewables by 2020.
The Trust, which has its headquarters in Swindon, is to invest £3.5 million in five pilot projects, including a 300kW biomass boiler at the neoclassical country house, Ickworth in Suffolk, and a 300kW marine source heat pump at Plas Newydd in North Wales.
Investing in renewable technologies, says the charity, will enable them to reduce their energy costs by £4 million per annum.
Patrick Begg, rural enterprises director at National Trust, said: “Through our work we show that renewable technologies can be made to work in some of the country’s most sensitive landscapes and historic environments.
“By investing in renewable energy production we can reduce our bills and invest more in vital conservation work around the country. It will put renewable energy at the heart of conservation.”
Juliet Davenport, CEO and founder of Good Energy, said: “Britain is blessed with abundant sources of natural power and we hope people will be inspired when they see how National Trust properties can generate renewable energy in harmony with the environment.
“Together we hope to encourage people to switch to green electricity, reduce their energy usage and, if possible, generate their own renewable power at home.”
