Every issue we will be examining an individual whose style we admire; whether that’s their style of management, leadership approach, entrepreneurial genius or indeed fashion sense! This issue; We meet a Manchester landlord who is taking advantage of a new scheme to encourage people to produce their own electricity…
Beech Properties owner, Stephen Beech, has installed solar panels on the roofs of his properties in a bid to become carbon neutral. Beech Properties is committed to demonstrating that to go green makes sounds business sense.
He began by retro-fitting his drafty, poorly insulated, central Manchester terraces, making them highly energy efficient in order to encourage eco-aware, money-conscious students and young professionals into his properties.
But it was the introduction of solar PV arrays - between 1kWp and 4kWp depending on roof size - at the end of 2009 that sent Beech Properties into orbit.
Stephen currently has a waiting list of 2000 people to fill his 400 bedrooms - all of which are booked up for the next two years - and tenants willing to pay their full year’s rent at once in order to secure a spot.
Stephen aims to have solar PV arrays on all 80 of his properties by the end of 2011; each one generating clean, homegrown energy to be used by his tenants. Whilst WorkLife think this is admirable and good for our planet, we can’t help but wonder ‘solar panels? In Manchester?’
“It’s a question I often get asked,” says Stephen. “But, solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to generate energy.
“The panels would only be 10- 20% more productive in Italy. The fact is,” he continues, “it’s actually more viable to have solar panels here in central Manchester than it is in the Sahara. And that’s because of the Feed-in Tariffs.” The introduction of the Feed- in Tariff in April 2010 was fundamental to Stephen’s business model, he says. “I looked into solar panels several years ago but the payback was 50 years. Now it’s more like eight.”
Beech Properties has certainly been a financial success for Stephen, however, his tenants are also benefiting by renting properties that are entirely bills free. Everything in Stephen’s properties runs on electricity, and with the superior insulation - Stephen has even relinquished a letterbox in his latest retro-fitted property - particularly energy frugal tenants are often able to earn money from their panels.
One of Stephen’s tenants recently received £70 for the surplus electricity their solar PV array generated. “I have produced a guide advising my tenants in all the efficiency measures they can take advantage of: using appliances in the day, for example, when the solar panels are working,” says Stephen.
Beech Properties also celebrated in June 2010 after collecting an accolade at the prestigious Inaugural Energy Innovation Awards.
The awards, the brainchild of Cheshire’s world-class Energy Innovation Centre, attracted entries from across the UK and Europe and saw leading figures from across the energy sector descend on Manchester on 17 June 2010 for a black-tie dinner at the Hilton Deansgate Hotel.
Beech Properties shone in the Consumer Benefit Award, collecting a commendation for its contribution to reducing carbon emissions.
Stephen Beech said “I’m ecstatic to have won this award and be recognised as the first landlord in the UK to offer carbon neutral properties.
“Our properties are booked up to two years in advance which proves going green is not only good for the environment, it’s good for business. There’s 400% government grants available for solar panels for everyone in the UK. People need to take advantage of the offer before it ends.”
www.beechsolar.co.uk WORK - 21
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