Fownhope and District Carbon Reduction Action Group (CRAG) are currently looking for local businesses or organisations, which currently spend over £5000 annually on their heating bills, to install wood-fuel boilers and take part in their Woolhope Dome Community Wood Fuel Project.

The project is offering free wood-fuel boilers and free installation and servicing to participating organisations within 15 miles of the Woolhope Dome area.

This innovative renewable energy project, which is a collaboration between two not-for-profit organisations Fownhope CRAG and Sharenergy, aims to use sustainably harvested wood from local woodlands to fuel wood-chip boilers that will heat local business and community premises. The project will be run by a community-owned co-operative which will own and operate woodchip-powered boilers in local premises and provide fuel for these boilers from local sustainable sources.

Ben Dodd the Development Manager for the Project said 'we are looking to install boilers in 8 to 10 organisations and have already had interest from a number of businesses. With the price of fuel increasing every year and pressure on organisations to reduce their carbon emissions, this project provides the opportunity to make real economic savings as well as helping the environment'.

Glyn Edwards a wood fuel specialist outlined how businesses can become involved; 'as potential businesses come forward, we will assess their suitability and follow this up with a more detailed study if required. This study work will be completely free of charge. The project will pay for the boiler, associated equipment and installation costs. This means there is no capital investment required by your organisation and the boiler is community owned. The project will maintain and repair the boiler and the associated equipment, so there are no maintenance costs to the organisation involved. Your organisation will just pay the project an agreed price per kWh of heat you use'.

Chris Boivin a CRAG Member said 'by installing a wood-chip boiler your organisation's carbon footprint will be dramatically reduced, your fuel will be sourced ethically and your business will be able to predict its heating costs over a number of years.

For further information please speak to:

Ben Dodd

Development Manager Woolhope Dome Community Wood-Fuel Project

Tel: (01530) 273 312

Mob: 07816 846 979

Email : woolhopedomeproject@gmail.com

Will Edwards

CRAG Publicity Officer

Tel: 07768 867 217