"The energy audit unearthed quick and simple ways for a small business to increase it's sustainability whilst at the same time reducing costs."
A precision engineering business in Rugby is making savings and has become a more pleasant environment in which to work after support from the Warwickshire Business Energy Advice Service.
Technoset, in Roman Way, underwent an initial energy audit, conducted by Coventry City Council, which was the start of a process which has proved invaluable to the business, according to managing director Adam Land.
“The audit enabled us to identify which changes we needed to make to the building to improve our EPC rating,” he said. “We were able to understand what the biggest impactors were and also what the opportunities were, so the report was very useful.
"It highlighted the benefits of insulated over cladding of the factory roof and that led to a real improvement not just in terms of energy-efficiency but in working conditions,We are a precision machine shop so making sure that the environment in the factory is stable gives us benefits beyond sustainability. Over the years we have found that the factory gets very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, so our gas heater is always on and the temperature is fluctuating. That can be quite unpleasant for the staff on the shop floor with machines kicking out heat as well.
“Supported by the WBEAS grant, we took an old gas heater out and improved the air-circulation from the roof down by putting destratification fans into the ceiling to keep pushing the warm air down. They are doing a fantastic job. We’ve upgraded our air-compressor system to be more energy-efficient and have now got modern equipment that is more reliable and makes us more secure.”
A £71,052 WBEAS grant helped towards the cost of that work which meant that finance was freed up to tackle another project to improve sustainability at the business, which employs 28 people and has been operating in Rugby since 1978.
Warwickshire County Council's Executive Director for Communities, Mark Ryder, said: "I am delighted that the Warwickshire Business Energy Advice Service advice and grant proved so valuable to Technoset. In this case, as with businesses which have engaged with WBEAS across the county, the energy audit unearthed quick and simple ways for a small business to increase it's sustainability whilst at the same time reducing costs."
* WBEAS is part of the Business Growth Warwickshire Programme, developed and commissioned jointly by Warwickshire County Council and the five district and borough councils in the county. It is funded by UK Government via West Midlands Combined Authority with further funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Coventry City Council have been appointed to deliver the energy audits after a procurement exercise. Warwickshire County Council manages the BEAS grant scheme.