In the heart of Edinburgh’s Roseburn area, Miju Hotel brings new life to an 1836 stone building that once served as the neighbouring church’s manse. The hotel’s owner, Priscilla Chiu, reimagined the historic space into a 17‑bedroom hotel with an adjoining restaurant known for its authentic Japanese cuisine.
While the transformation brought a new sense of purpose to the building, the realities of running a hospitality business in a historic property came with challenges — particularly around energy use. Older stone buildings are notoriously difficult to heat. When rising energy costs became a significant hurdle, Priscilla was determined not to compromise on guest comfort.
That’s when she got in touch with Business Energy Scotland for impartial energy-saving advice and support.
Priscilla was introduced to an energy advisor who carried out a detailed assessment of the building. Together, they identified where heat was being lost, how the heating system was performing and which improvements would deliver the greatest impact.
Business Energy Scotland then produced a comprehensive report outlining the upgrades that would most effectively improve the hotel’s energy performance. Measures such as internal wall insulation, flat roof insulation, double glazing and exploring solar PV were estimated to save the hotel around £2,600 a year and cut carbon emissions by 4.6 tonnes.
The report also helped Priscilla understand the expected payback periods and the practical considerations involved in each upgrade – essential information for planning improvements in a busy, guest‑facing environment.
“The support I received was brilliant. It’s so helpful to learn how to improve your business, save energy and cut costs. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
With a clear set of recommendations in hand, Priscilla decided to prioritise the window upgrades.
Improving the hotel’s glazing offered an immediate way to reduce heat loss, enhance guest comfort and start lowering energy costs without major disruption today‑to‑day operations.
Priscilla was able to take advantage of funding from the Scottish Government’s SME Loan Scheme. This interest free loan and cashback grant reduced the estimated payback period for the upgrade from 49 years to just over 12 years.
The upgrade delivered an immediate improvement in heat retention and lowered energy use. Guests quickly picked up on the change too, with rooms feeling warmer, quieter and more comfortable throughout the day – an important factor for a hotel that prides itself on providing a relaxing stay.
Priscilla said: “The support I received was brilliant. It’s so helpful to learn how to improve your business, save energy and cut costs. I’d recommend it to anyone.”
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Whether you are just starting out on your energy-saving journey and need some pointers or are looking for expertise and funding to support your current plans, our team of experienced business advisors and energy-saving specialists are here to help. Get in touch today.
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