For years, we’ve dreamed of reducing our running costs and cutting our reliance on gas and grid electricity. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about making our space more sustainable for the future.
Looking Back: Where We Started
Back in 2018, we had a resource assessment done on our building. The findings? Our lighting system was a huge drain on electricity, and our roof insulation was practically nonexistent. At the time, we also looked into solar panels and better glazing, but they came with a hefty price tag and a long payback period—so they stayed on our wish list.
Fast forward to 2020, and we decided to start making changes, one step at a time:
💡 Lighting upgrades – We replaced outdated fixtures with modern, energy-efficient lighting, including adjustable classroom lights to set the mood for different events. This alone cut our energy use by 4,000 kWh per year!
🏠 Insulation improvements – A warmer building means less wasted heat.
🔄 Destratification fans – Fancy name, simple concept: these fans push warm air back down from our high Victorian ceilings, keeping rooms warmer without extra heating.

Where We Are Now: The Next Big Leap
This year, we brought in Business Energy Scotland to reassess our energy use. We knew our electricity consumption had gone up—thanks to our new café equipment and electric van—but we also knew we could do better.
The assessment gave us a clear roadmap for the future, with three big solutions on the table:
☀️ Solar panels – To generate our own clean electricity.
🌬️ Air-source heat pumps – To move away from gas heating.
🔲 Secondary glazing – To boost insulation and cut heat loss.

What’s Next?
The good news? This project is now in motion! It’s taken years of planning, but we’re finally in a position to make real, lasting changes to our energy use. By investing in these upgrades, we’re not just reducing costs—we’re future-proofing our space and making it more sustainable for years to come.
Stay tuned for updates as we take this next big step toward a greener, more energy-efficient future! 💚♻️