We don’t just consume energy, we make it!
WHY?
The current average UK household produces approximately 8.1 tonnes of CO2 per year. The Fifth Carbon budget released in November 2015 “makes it clear that the government must endeavour to reduce emissions made by UK households by 3.7 metric tonnes by 2030, meaning that the average home would be producing 4.5 tonnes of CO2 annually instead of the current average of 8.1 tonnes.” The aim of this reduction is to help keep us on track to the 80% UK-wide reduction in emissions by 2050 required to help avoid a climate catastrophe. https://heatable.co.uk/boiler-advice/average-carbon-footprint#:
(The Commission on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent, statutory body established under the Climate Change Act 2008)
At Cranmer we are on a mission to do our bit towards the 2050 target of reducing the UK’s burgeoning greenhouse gas emissions. We are limiting emissions from fossil fuels generated onsite when the cottages and pool are in use, by utilising the alternative renewable energy technologies we have installed on our site. We have been early adopters in incorporating green technologies into our energy mix which began in 2009. The investment cost has been of over £250,000 to date.
Over the past century, the main energy sources used for generating electricity have been fossil fuels including coal, oil & gas which are used in everyday households for lighting, heating and power. In a self-catering accommodation business this is quite a challenge where the luxury of independence, space and comfort often come at a cost to the environment.
In becoming a more planet aware business, and by supplementing the energy we consume onsite with energy from renewable sources, we have been able to substantially reduce the amount of Co2e (Carbon Dioxide emissions) produced by our business. Between 2008 and 2019 we could demonstrate that we had already saved 420tCo2e.
Our 20-kilowatt wind turbine & solar Photovoltaic panels have produced over 318,000 kWh of energy to power our site An estimated 75% is used onsite to maintain our cottages and facilities and 25% exported to the National grid. (Dates 2009 – 2023)
Our solar thermal systems, ground source heat pump and biomass boiler have produced over 3,441 Megawatt hours (MWth) of energy in 14 years, replacing the need for fossil fuels in the form of oil and LPG gas boilers to heat the properties facilities and our pool.
We do not burn trees harvested overseas in our biomass boiler. We use sustainably grown and naturally dried woodchip produced by a local supplier as part of a woodland management scheme, less than 8 miles away from Cranmer. We also have also used recycled woodchip from waste palettes from a source approved by Ofgem. The fuel is approved by Ofgem for its production and moisture content. Co2e are absorbed by the surrounding woodland and offset by our ongoing land management schemes including planting of trees and hedges around our farm.
OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Our renewable technologies had produced over 211,392 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy from natural sources including wind, sun, earth & waste wood or sustainably grown wood sources by 2019. In the same year we achieved an absolute saving of over 420 tonnes of Co2e in 10 years whist expanding our business, and a like for like reduction of over 85%Co2e per bed night compared with the carbon footprint of our business in 2008. (Evidenced in our Carbon Print Report delivered by Groundwork East in 2019
ENERGY FROM WIND & SUN
We supply electricity via wind energy to our cottages from a 20kW wind turbine installed in 2009. This is supplemented by a 10 kW Solar PV system installed to the Eco Barns in 2010 alongside a 9kW solar thermal array to supplement the hot water system for the Eco Barns.
In 2009-10 we also installed 24kW solar thermal systems to supplement the hot water for the swimming pool showers, and to provide additional hot water heating to Swallow & Woodpecker Cottages in the summer months. (All systems are MCS certified).
In 14 years, Our renewable technologies have produced over 3759 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy from natural & renewable sources including wind, sun, earth & waste wood or sustainably grown wood sources.
Our wind turbine and Solar PV are registered for FIT’s which are paid to us via Microtricity. Electricity is supplied to the Eco barns by Ecotricity “the Uk’s greenest energy supplier” https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/
ENERGY FROM THE EARTH
In 2009 we installed 2 Ground Source heat pumps to serve the underfloor heating in our eco-friendly Eco Barns. The ground source heat pumps extract heat from the aquifer under our farmland, which is at a constant temperature of about 8 ˚ c. Boreholes contain loops of pipe 90 meters down into the earth and transfer the heat to the pipe. The twin compressor heat pump has a coefficient of 4:1 and is far more efficient than an air source heat pump where the average coefficient is around 2.5 – 2.8. (Unit of electricity used: amount of heat output.
ENERGY FROM SUSTAINABLE WOODCHIP
In 2014 we installed our 100kW Biomass Boiler district heating system. The boiler uses both recycled woodchip when available and woodchip from a locally grown wood source. “Biomass has been promoted as a carbon-neutral energy source in some countries on the basis that emissions released by burning wood can be offset by the carbon dioxide taken up by the trees grown to replace those burned.
LOW ENERGY LIGHTING
2018-2019; As part of a carbon reduction project with BEE Anglia and Groundwork East, all lighting throughout the site, both internal and external was reviewed and updated from CFL lamps to exclusively LED sources apart from some very energy efficient fluorescent tubes imbedded in the beams of our original cottages.
External lighting is on timers to go off at night, which saves energy and is better for wildlife.
Flood lighting in the pool was updated to use LED fittings.
The replacement of lighting fittings is estimated to save 5.7 tonnes CO2e per year, from 2019 on completion of the project.
Small things that go a long way!
WATER CONSERVATION
Water used on our site comes from our 80-meter-deep borehole and the chalk aquifer below ground. The water is recycled through our SuDs drainage system (Sustainable drainage which helps to manage storm water and recycle as much of the run off from our roofs and courtyards as possible directing the water back into the earth for filtration.
- The water is purified using a water treatment plant and is tested by our local district council.
- Drinking water is available from the kitchen tap. No need for plastic bottles of mineral water!!
- Water reduction: Bathrooms were fitted with tap flow restrictors, dual flush W.C.’s and Eco Camel showerheads. Tap water pressure was adjusted down to reduce excess flow and save water.
- The courtyards and terraces are planted with grasses and drought resistant plants.
- Plants are watered at the coolest times of day, early morning and evening using water from our borehole and recycled via the SuDS drainage system including run off from roofs and via a drainage pond.
- All cleaning products are plant based, phosphate free and environmentally friendly. Better for our guests and better for our rural drainage!
- We have a towel policy for unused guest towels & clear information displayed in our cottages that nothing but toilet paper must go down our loo’s!
OUR POOL
- Our luxury indoor heated swimming pool is open all year for guests use and is available for fitness use by members of our community on a private hire basis.
- Pool water is supplied from our private borehole and recycled back through the aquifer for re use.
- The pool water and space heating are managed via an efficient Calorex heat recovery system which was refurbished and updated in 2022.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
We reduce our waste when and where we can and ask our guests to do the same during their stay. We make this easy by providing separate labelled bins for recycling, general household waste and Glass bottles & cans.
- Our guest booking communications are all communicated online.
- We have replaced hospitality miniatures with pump dispensers and locally made soaps and shampoos.
- We separate our waste into recycling and household waste and ask our guests to do the same.
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
We use local suppliers when we can and we work with other like-minded businesses.
- Our welcome hampers are supplied with local produce and fair-trade items.
- We work closely with suppliers to reduce plastic waste from housekeeping products by refilling containers where possible.
