We were delighted to win the Green Initiative & Sustainability Award at this year’s R Awards.
This is a new award for 2022, sponsored by We Buy Books Ltd. It recognises the most successful and sustainable Rossendale Green business nominated this year, regardless of size or how long it has been trading. Nominees were to demonstrate the quality and scope of the green initiatives designed and implemented throughout their business. They also had to show plans for development and growth, including making their business even greener.
We demonstrated this through two projects.
Alliance
Firstly, through Alliance, the refurbishment of the former Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank, Bacup, into 4 new apartments and co-working space. The project involves improving the green credentials of the building through insulation, highly insulating windows and air source heat pumps. We achieved this in the context of a Grade II Listed Building.
Decarbonising Rossendale
Secondly, through funding from the UK Government Community Renewal Fund, we delivered the Decarbonising Rossendale project.
This project explores how the natural and built heritage of Rossendale might contribute to a net zero carbon future. Key parts of the project are a study into potential renewable energy projects, establishing a community energy organisation and evaluating the heat pump installation at Alliance.
The new community energy company, Rossendale Valley Energy, has recently been set up. It will work with our communities to develop renewable energy projects across Rossendale. The community will then have the chance to invest directly in these projects.
And the project has supported installing energy monitoring equipment and working with tenants to look at the performance of the heat pumps at Alliance. We will share information, including user feedback, to show potential air source heat pump purchasers how the technology works.
It was an honour to gain this award and we plan to ensure our future projects are as green as possible!