Background: The Waiting Room, a small-scale sole trader establishment, aimed to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. They participated in the SME Energy Efficiency Scheme (SMEES) and implemented two key energy-saving measures to achieve this. The project received support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme. The Waiting Room underwent an energy efficiency assessment, which identified the following upgrades:
- Air Source Heat Pump – Conservatory: The Waiting Room installed an air source heat pump in their conservatory, providing energy-efficient heating using air-to-air heat pump technology.
- Solar PV Installation: The Waiting Room installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to harness clean and renewable solar energy for electricity generation, reducing their reliance on grid power and lowering operational costs.
Decerna, in collaboration with the client, facilitated the procurement process and provided grants towards the overall project costs of;
- Air Source Heat Pump – Conservatory: The project received a grant of £1,680.00.
- Solar PV: The project received a grant of £5,520.74.
Outcomes: The implementation of these energy-efficient upgrades resulted in the following outcomes for The Waiting Room:
- Annual Cost Savings:
- Air Source Heat Pump – Conservatory: Installing the air source heat pump in the conservatory generated annual cost savings of £2,196.
- Solar PV: The solar PV installation contributed to annual cost savings of £1,236.
- Carbon Emissions Reduction:
- Air Source Heat Pump – Conservatory: The air source heat pump installation led to a reduction of approximately 3.7 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions per year.
- Solar PV: The solar PV installation resulted in a decrease of around 3.4 tCO2e emissions annually.
- Grant and Payback Period:
- Air Source Heat Pump – Conservatory: A payback period of 0.5 years.
- Solar PV: A payback period of 3 years.
Conclusion: The Waiting Room successfully implemented energy-efficient upgrades by participating in the SME Energy Efficiency Scheme. The air source heat pump installation and solar PV system led to significant cost savings and reduced carbon emissions. The Waiting Room exemplifies how small-scale sole trader establishments can prioritise financial benefits and environmental sustainability by embracing energy-efficient solutions.
More Information
Please visit the overall case study for the project on the Decerna website here.
SMEES is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
