Introduction
Stourbridge Cricket Club located in Amblecote is a community based organisation that provides cricketing and social opportunities for local people. The club has an active commitment to reduce its environmental impact through the implementation of an environment policy, fitting insulation and the generation of their own energy. This is an excellent example of how a local community group can save energy and encourage others to take action.
What was involved?
The first stage was to identify the areas of the clubhouse where the energy efficiency could be improved and opportunities for energy generation. The club’s Grant and Sponsorship Officer liaised with the leading social enterprise Marches Energy Agency to arrange for a feasibility study to be conducted. The feasibility study was funded by an external grant awarded to Dudley MBC and the Community Sustainable Energy Programme.
The next stage was to implement the recommendations of the feasibility study and this entailed selecting appropriate contractors, obtaining support from the Club’s management team and obtaining sources of grant funding. The Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Michael Evans and Margot Jones, MP for Stourbridge acknowledged their success at community celebration event in August 2011.
Insulation
The club used a local installer to fit 250mm of warmcell insulation made from finely shredded newspaper to make the clubhouse warmer. The insulation has a low environmental impact – the amount of CO2 stored in the insulation is greater than the amount released during the manufacture and installation process. The club paid for the cost of insulation from their own finances and expect it to take approximately four years to recoup the purchase costs and save 1.82 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Energy Efficiency Lighting
The efficiency of lighting in the clubhouse has been increased through the replacement of old inefficient strip light tubes with smaller, more efficient tubes fitted with an adaptor. It would take the club an estimated 6 years to re-coup the costs of the upgrades to lighting and save about half a tonne of carbon dioxide each year.
Solar technologies
The natural progression after making the clubhouse as energy efficient as possible was the installation of solar technologies. The club’s Grant and Fundraising Officer made successful grant applications to the Community Sustainable Energy Programme to fund the capital costs of the installation. These technologies are located on the front of the clubhouse and are a prominent statement of the club’s commitment to energy generation.
Solar photovoltaic panels
A 2.3 Kilowatt Peak (kWp) array solar photovoltaic panels covering 16 square meters of the clubhouse’s south facing roof were installed to convert the light present in the sun rays into electricity that is used to power appliances and heating. This system is expected to generate around 1850kWh per annum and will save 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per annum. The club will receive a deduction from their electricity bill for every unit of electricity generated by the panel through a national scheme designed to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies.
Solar thermal panels
Solar thermal panels are a cost effective technology that has been installed to heat water and yield an annual carbon saving of 1.18 tonnes. Solar thermal panels work by pumping water through a series of pipes contained in the solar collector; the water is then stored in the hot water tank until it is required.
Outcomes
Through greater financial savings from the insulation and income generated by the panels, the club is able to offer local groups access to their facilities; thus stimulating community activity and further raising the profile of the solar technologies. Club officers are committed to share their experiences with other community groups and schools through an information zone.
The clubs work to install energy efficiency lighting and their work to secure funding for the solar technologies was praised in the Dudley Energy Heroes Awards 2011 as a local example of energy saving practice.
For further information
Contact Mark Ashbourne, Grants and Sponsorship Officer on 07506 747619 or ma004g2691@blueyonder.co.uk
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