With offices in Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney, and decades of experience as trusted Solicitors to communities across the north of Scotland, d and h knows a thing or two about rural property.
When the legal firm’s director, Serena Sutherland, began arranging upgrades to their office in Kirkwall, energy efficiency was front and centre of the project right from the very start. Thanks to a recommendation from the company accountant, Serena learned about the free and impartial energy-saving support from Business Energy Scotland that could help her.
Following an initial consultation call with one of our business energy advisors, our team got to work, assessing the Kirkwall office and producing a summary report that presented the energy-saving measures we recommended incorporating into the office upgrade.
When we got in touch with Business Energy Scotland, we were in the process of arranging upgrades to the Kirkwall office. I wanted to include as much energy efficiency as possible. Business Energy Scotland’s support has helped us achieve that and we are now working with them to make more energy-saving upgrades to our office in Thurso.
The first recommendation we made was to upgrade the old and failing electric storage heaters with modern alternatives. When combined with a suitable energy tariff, electric storage heaters are a good way of reducing energy bills by utilising off peak electrical rates – storing heat during the night and using it during the day, when electricity is most expensive.
To get the most out of the new heaters, we also recommended working with an experienced installer to fit internal wall and loft insulation. With no wall or loft insulation in place, this upgrade would significantly reduce heat loss, making the late nineteenth century building far easier – and cheaper – to heat in the future.
Similarly, our report recommended upgrading the building’s 17 single-glazed windows. While its listed status and conservation area regulations meant double glazing wasn’t possible, we recommended installing secondary glazing as a viable alternative. This upgrade would also make the building easier to heat. Effective secondary glazing can reduce heat losses from a building by 10% and is generally cheaper to install than double glazing.
We also recommended replacing the office’s compact and tubular fluorescent bulbs with modern, energy efficient LEDs. Not only would this reduce energy costs, but it would also allow lighting presence controls to be fitted in areas such as corridors and toilets, which are used less frequently, reducing energy use even further.
Finally, further energy savings could be made by upgrading the office’s ageing hot water system with two, modern instantaneous water heaters.
Our report estimated that, together these upgrades would save an estimated £18,000 per year on energy costs and reduce annual carbon emissions by 12.7 tonnes.
Thanks to an interest free loan and a £20,000 cashback grant from the Scottish Government’s SME Loan Scheme, Serena has now been able to include these recommendations into the office upgrade.
Serena summarised: “When we got in touch with Business Energy Scotland, we were in the process of arranging upgrades to the Kirkwall office. I wanted to include as much energy efficiency as possible. Business Energy Scotland’s support has helped us achieve that and we are now working with them to make more energy-saving upgrades to our office in Thurso.”
Help for your business
Business Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free, impartial support and access to funding to help small and medium-sized enterprises save energy, carbon and money
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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