Case study - Apteco

Experts in Renewable Energy, Design & Installation

Case study - Apteco

Retrofit of Solar PV and Solar Hot Water to Save Money Project Overview When IT/Business Intelligence company APTECO Ltd wanted its offices at Tink-a-Tank House in Warwick to ‘go green,’ it became apparent this was easier said than done. The company wanted to do its bit for carbon-reduction, whilst meeting growing energy demands within office hours from three electric showers, washrooms and new technologies for the server room on their way.

Client

APTECO Ltd

Location Warwick Sector

Commercial Retrofit

Project Details

3

Energy & Sustainability Statement / Planning Application Ground Source Heat Pump Air Source Heat Pump

Challenges and requirements The management at APTECO Ltd became aware that the addition of a new computer server meant that the current energy supply at peak load was no longer sufficient. Installing the new cables and other connections that would be necessary to increase capacity at its town-centre location would be neither straightforward nor affordable. The energy board’s quote of over £50,000 was hugely costly and it wasn’t the ‘green’ option APTECO Ltd wanted.

Waverley House, 70 Binswood Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV32 5RY

Feasibility Assessment

3

Solar Thermal - hot water

3

Solar PV - electricity Underfloor Heating / Room Heating Grant / Incentive Scheme Support

08455 33 32 31

hello@GreenACT.co.uk

The company then investigated renewable energy in some depth and became interested in solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Being a Grade II listed building, getting planning permission for installing them wasn’t easy. As the property’s roof is visible from the iconic Warwick Castle, it took a court hearing and over a year to overturn the original planning restriction on solar panels before any works could go ahead.

What we did GreenACT designed and installed a solar PV system which maximises the yield available from the roof space and works well with the original slate roof. Over the course of a year, it provides 3066kWh of electrical energy, which Apteco uses on site. A handy monitor shows how much electricity is being generated at that time and helps to raise an awareness of electricity usage.

Surplus energy generated by the solar PV system is also used to power fans which keep the computers in the server room cool, meaning they run more efficiently and at a lower cost.

It also designed and installed a 300 litre solar thermal hot water system to provide free hot water for staff showers and washrooms.

Benefits & outcomes

“Not only did Peter carry out a really thorough assessment of our property’s specific needs, but he was able to offer a completely renewable solution”

Renewable energy provides 66 percent of APTECO Ltd’s hot water requirement, which, when combined with support from the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive, means a direct saving of £500 per year, compared to a traditional gas heating system. The company uses all the free electricity it generates on site and saves 2.6 tonnes of carbon per year. A further 1.52 tonnes of carbon are saved annually by the solar thermal system.

Development director at APTECO Ltd, Simon Holderness, says, “GreenACT was able to offer us the whole package. Not only did Peter carry out a really thorough assessment of our property’s specific needs, but he was able to offer a completely renewable solution. With the company being so local, the whole process was very straightforward.”

GreenACT Ltd Waverley House, 70 Binswood Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV32 5RY Company registered in England 6867210

For more information please contact us:

Tel: 08455 33 32 31 or Email: hello@GreenACT.co.uk

Please visit: www.greenact.co.uk