HEAVYSIDE SPECIAL: INSULATION
PAVING THE WAY TO A GREENER FUTURE
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educing environmental impact is a growing priority for all businesses and merchants are no exception. With the impact of climate change being felt across the world, sustainability is firmly under the spotlight. This shift has translated into more customers seeking evidence of how our business is tackling the issue.
Incorporating sustainable practices can be easier said than done. As a broad term, which is often open to interpretation, sustainability can mean different things to different businesses. At Beesley & Fildes, we have sought to make incremental changes across our branches through small and large investments. Our focus has been on proactively reducing our carbon footprint looking at a variety of factors ranging from how we source our timber through to minimising waste and energy use across the business.
The power of solar
Our most recent sustainability investment has seen us transition to solar power at our Widnes depot. We chose to partner with a local business, TB Electrics, to design and install the solution which incorporates 600 solar panels.
The specialist team visited our site to establish the most effective design considering elements such as the roof structure, electricity usage requirements, access, and existing electrical connections. The solar panels were installed on the main building of our depot as its size, elevations and existing electrical infrastructure would maximise the amount of power generated.
“This means we can use the solar panels to run a substantial portion of the site, including our timber mill.
The impact of the solar solution was seen within just seven weeks of being installed. With a peak power of 252 kilowatts, the solar array generated 71,731 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. By the end of the year, the total is expected to reach 195,420 kWh and reduce our CO2 emissions by 39%.
As a result, we are significantly reducing our reliance on fossil fuels with the solar solution expected to save a total of 49 tonnes of CO2 annually - the equivalent to 9,378 trees and more than 1,000 long-haul flights.
Continuous improvement Our solar panels investment is our largest to date and adds to several sustainability initiatives implemented within the last six years. In 2017, we built a £500,000 biomass plant at our Widnes branch which is enabling us to convert used timber pallets and offcuts into renewable energy. Instead of putting the waste timber into skips, we chip it and send directly to a storage area for the biomass fuel. Biomass is a renewable energy source, generated from burning the timber, and means our plant can generate enough energy to provide heating and hot water for all six departments at our Widnes branch. In the summer, the chippings are stored for extra fuel in the winter or if we need more energy at other points in the year. As well as helping us to cut carbon emissions, the biomass plant is saving our business around £1,000 per week in skip hire costs.
As part of our wider sustainability strategy, our staff wear branded uniforms made from recycled materials and we have invested £2m in our fleet. This has seen us introduce more environmentally-friendly trucks that comply with the clean air zones being implemented
November 2023
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
by the Government across the UK. Within the next three years, our aim is to incorporate fully electric trucks into our fleet to provide even greater efficiency while eliminating emissions. Recognising the impact of sustainability on purchasing decisions, we are also beginning to research more eco-friendly building products for our customers. Thanks to advances in technology, more sustainable options are coming to market, including bricks made from 100 per cent recycled waste material. We are keen to explore alternatives such as this to help our customers and the wider construction industry meet their sustainability goals.
A holistic approach
In a world where sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity, the merchant industry must take a more proactive stance. Even small steps can drive impactful change, which will not only make a positive difference to the environment but operational efficiency. A focus on continuous improvement, innovation and the changing demands of a more environmentally conscious market will help merchants of all sizes pave the way towards a greener, more sustainable future. BMJ
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As the effects of climate change intensify, James Beesley, commercial director at Beesley & Fildes, discusses the urgent need for merchants to proactively invest in a more environmentally sustainable future.
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