Carbon management plans

Foxlake Adventures CIC is a wakeboarding water sports centre located in Dunbar

The site has no permanent buildings but comprises cabins providing office space, storage, changing and welfare facilities, and a café which is outsourced to a third party. LPG is used for heating water and cooking equipment in the café. The company has recently removed the showers from the changing rooms and has installed 2 outdoor showers to reduce water heating costs. Through participation in the Net Zero Carbon Pilot project, the advisor has identified further opportunities for reducing energy costs and consumption as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Heating

The current heating in the cabins comprises electric radiators and the advisor recommended the installation of electric infrared heating panels. This type of heating operates at the same wavelength as heat from the sun. Like the heat from the sun, infrared heats solid objects and the fabric of the building, rather than the air. The heat is in turn re-radiated out creating a steady naturally comfortable heated environment. This type of heating has savings of up to 50% over conventional electric heating. This measure gives a saving of 9,240kWh and £1,386 per annum and also a carbon dioxide saving of 1,962kgCO2e.

To further reduce heating costs, the advisor also recommended upgrading the windows in the office cabin to double glazed units which would save a further £147, and an energy saving of 983kWh and a carbon dioxide saving of 209kgCO2e. In addition, upgrading the refrigeration in the staff room identified a small saving of 876kWh equating to a cost saving of £65 and a carbon dioxide saving of 96kgCO2e.

Renewable energy generation

 

However, the biggest opportunity for the site is the potential for renewable energy generation. As the business is seasonal and the highest energy consumption is in the summer months, the company could operate almost entirely on renewable energy. The advisor conducted a feasibility of both roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar PV connected to a battery storage unit which would potentially generate 40,007kWh per annum saving £6,085 in mains electricity costs and saving 8,495kgCO2e.

Total savings of 51,106kWh and £7,683 have been identified as well as a carbon dioxide saving of 10,759kgCO2e.