Cotswold property specialists, Butler Sherbon, are launching a new energy consultancy service for homes, businesses, farmers and land owners, called Butler Sherbon Energy.
The new department will take a holistic view when advising customers how best to harness renewable energy after commissioning a full energy audit. Butler Sherbon Energy believe that key consideration in any audit should be given to energy efficiency gains before advising on the suitability of renewable energy generation such as from wind power, photovoltaic (PV) and biomass.
“However you heat and provide power to your property – gas, electricity, oil or solid fuel – the cost is increasing, and with growing demand on global resources, this situation is only going to become more critical,” says Richard Palmer who’s heading up the new department.
“A lot of people are already considering alternative renewable fuel sources, largely driven by recent Government incentives, but these are not without their costs and complications. This new service is designed to help people make well informed investment decisions now to ensure, for example, cost savings, a low carbon future and enhanced capital value of their assets.”
“Whether you own a country cottage or a large family house, run a farm, estate or rural business, the cost of energy is an issue that’s concerning us all,” says Richard Greasby, partner and head of Butler Sherborn’s Rural department. “It is a dynamic and rapidly changing market place and our new service will help you make a well informed and considered decision.”
One of Butler Sherbon Energy’s first customers was Oxleaze Farm in Oxfordshire, a 850-acre beef and arable farm. After analysing the farm’s energy audit, the consultants recommended that the farm install one 50kWp solar array on a new monopitch barn and a further 20kW of solar on the farm’s new “Energy Centre” that would house a new 200kW Biomass boiler.”
The project was originally planned to be completed by the end of March before the proposed changes in the FiT for solar PV. However, Government’s newly imposed deadlines of December 12 and subsequently, March 3, led to a phased and very proactive project management approach in order to meet the deadlines and protect the farm business from receiving lower tariffs.
“Whether you own a country cottage or a large family house, run a farm, estate or rural business, the cost of energy is an issue that’s concerning us all,” says Richard Greasby, Partner and Head of Butler Sherborn’s Rural department. “It is a dynamic and rapidly changing market place and our new service will help you make a well informed and considered decision.”
