The Vineyard which is located in the beautiful Severn Valley, just 10 miles north of the cathedral city of Worcester is one of the oldest vineyards in the UK, has recently been named Visit Worcestershire's "Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Business of the Year" in 2024.
Here's their story on how taking advantage of the Net Zero Worcestershire programme energy efficiency grant transformed their sustainable business practices cutting costs and their carbon footprint. By replacing the air-conditioning units with a more efficient modern model and installing solar panels in their wine warehouse they have been able to lower their electricity bill. Implementing recommendations from their free energy saving review has also meant they have been able to raise the energy efficiency in their electrical equipment and machinery to a grade of 'A' or 'B'.
" Astley Vineyard's energy costs have been transformed following support from Worcestershire County Council. We commissioned a free energy audit in 2022 and this identified the best action we could take was the installation of solar panels on top of our two warehouses. Funding from WCC was vital to making this happen. Together with changes in our behaviours around energy usage, we have lowered our electricity bills in 2024 to less than half of those in 2022. The payback period for our investment will be much shorter than we anticipated. Overall, we are delighted!"
Tim Haywood [Owner of Astley Vineyard]
Net Zero Worcestershire carbon reduction reviews have helped the Vineyard identify where they shift behaviour review their environmental impacts and save on their energy bills. To find out more about Astley Vineyard's sustainability commitments visit: https://astleyvineyard.co.uk/about-us/our-vineyard/sustainable/
Taking your next steps - save money and energy
We understand that measuring your carbon footprint is the first positive step you can take towards a more sustainable future. The Net Zero Worcestershire programme, in affiliation with the Business Energy Advice Service, offers a free independent energy saving reviews to SME's in Worcestershire to help them achieve their energy saving goals. Incorporating low carbon practices can enhance your businesses appeal to customers whilst helping you save money and energy. Here are some tips on how to get started:
Contact our team today: Our friendly team are here to offer advice on grant funding and help you on your way towards meeting your energy saving goals.
Grant Funding: Eligible SMEs in Worcestershire can access up to £10,000 in grant funding to implement renewable technologies (includes solar, air source heat pumps). Up to £100,000 is available to support energy efficiency projects (includes upgrades to lighting, compressors, machinery). Grants are awarded for up to 40% of the total project costs. All grant applications are subject to a competitive process and are evaluated against an eligibility criteria, the amount available is also dependent upon your location.
To find out more: visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/netzero to find out more or simply email our friendly team at netzero@worcestershire.gov.uk. Start your sustainability journey today!
