As part of its commitment to ‘Protecting the Environment’, the Centre’s 6th Green Footprint, Bents Garden & Home in Warrington, Cheshire, has completed an extensive solar panel installation, which it hopes will provide 20-25% of its overall energy supply.
A total of 1167 new panels have been fitted to the Centre’s buildings which will generate enough energy for the family owned and run business to operate on a self-sufficient basis at certain times of the year. And with additional plans for even more green investments and developments Bents aims to be over 90% self-sufficient at all times in the coming years.
The new initiative is the latest addition to Bents’ Six Green Footprints, which have formed the basis of the Centre’s commitment to the environment and world around us since their launch in 2007.
The Green Footprints outline the Centre’s commitments to: Recycling, Water Efficiency, Healthy Living, Social Responsibility, Trading Fairly & Responsibly and Protecting Our Environment.
Long term initiatives such as the purpose built 3.5m gallon reservoir - which collects all run off water for re-use throughout the Centre – as well as green waste, plant pot and general recycling schemes have been enhanced by the investment into the new solar panels. These, along with an existing 190 solar panels, cover an area of 2,536 sq m.
The addition of the new solar panels is the latest investment into alternative and renewable energy supplies, at a time when the issue features high on the national agenda.
Says Matthew: “As our Green Footprints state, ‘we believe passionately in our environment and have a vision of a healthier, happier and greener future and if we all take small steps, together we can achieve a bigger goal’. We are constantly reviewing and researching new opportunities for improvement and the installation of our new solar panels is the latest example of our on-going commitment. We are already looking into additional initiatives and hope we can start working on making new plans very soon.”