Showcase of local care home’s energy savings

Friday 20 May 2016

The Jersey Cheshire Home has saved thousands of pounds through energy efficiency improvements, and has opened its doors to help other care homes do the same.

Yesterday afternoon, the home shared the eco active lessons it has learnt from efforts to use energy efficiently while improving the comfort and care of residents.

Jersey Cheshire Home received grant support for energy efficiency improvements as an applicant of the Community Buildings Programme. This scheme is run by the Department of the Environment which assists charities and not-for-profit organisations providing services to vulnerable members of the local community.  By improving the energy efficiency of community properties, the aim is to help reduce overheads and to provide a more comfortable environment for their clients. 

The Community Buildings Programme has funded a variety of measures at the Cheshire Home including loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and various heating system improvements including two new highly efficient boilers.

Since the completion of energy efficiency works, Jersey Cheshire Home’s annual heating bills have been reduced by an average of £8,350. The works have an expected payback of just 9.3 years, and has reduced Jersey Cheshire Home’s carbon footprint by 37 tonnes per year – equivalent to the average emissions of 24 Jersey homes.

The Cheshire Home has also taken the next step in demonstrating environmental good practice by joining the eco active business network. Eco active business offers free advice and support to organisations that are interested in saving energy and adopting environmentally friendly practices.

The promotion of energy efficiency supported by the eco active business scheme are delivery components of Pathway 2050: An energy plan for Jersey. In addition to Jersey Cheshire Home, a further 27 local organisations have also benefitted from energy efficiency measures through the Community Buildings Programme. Another two organisations have been successfully accepted onto the programme, and are currently awaiting works. There are currently over 170 local businesses signed up to the eco active business network.

Environment Minister Steve Luce said: “We all want to see high quality residential care on the Island and energy efficiency has an important part to play in providing warm and comfortable homes without overspending on fuel. I hope that the care sector will get behind this initiative, realise the benefits and play their part in working towards our carbon emissions reduction targets. The States of Jersey has a strategic aim of secure, affordable and sustainable energy and enabling the community to drive down all energy use is vital if we are to achieve these goals.”

General Manager of Jersey Cheshire Home, David Lord, said: “The Jersey Cheshire Home has greatly benefitted from the support and advice provided by the Energy Efficiency Service – not only has their involvement allowed us to save fuel and reduce our carbon emissions but perhaps most importantly has increased our awareness on energy saving initiatives; we now take every step we can to reduce our consumption and expenditure.”

Invitations to the event have been sent to all the Island’s private care homes as well as a number of charitable and not-for-profit homes.  Built in the 1980s, the Jersey Cheshire Home provides full time accommodation to 25 disabled residents, but also opens its doors to other members of the public too.