Grant backing helps company slash energy costs with solar panel investment
A Barnsley-based carpet and flooring company has gained grant funding to invest in solar panels which will generate more than 70% of its energy needs.
Floormaster Yorkshire has installed 36 panels to the roof of its warehouse at Barugh Green to feed electricity into the company’s 600 sq ft showroom next-door.
The company’s investment has been backed by a grant from the Net Zero Barnsley programme delivered by The Business Village in partnership with Barnsley Council.
Floormaster became eligible for a capital grant – which it has had to match-fund – to invest in a development to cut carbon emissions, after completing the programme.
The family firm bid for £6,000 to go halves on a £12,000 photo-voltaic system designed to switch the company to renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions by 80% and slashing energy bills by half.
Floormaster operations manager, Daniel Deacey, said: “We own our warehouse and its expansive roof, so when Net Zero Barnsley helped us look at the idea of putting solar panels up there to generate power for our showroom and offices it all made perfect sense.
“Even so, as a small business we probably wouldn’t have been able to afford to pay up-front for the PV system – the grant support was really important in our decision to go-ahead.
“We look forward to much lower monthly energy bills soon. And, as we’ve all got to work towards net zero emissions, it feels good to have taken significant action towards that too.”
Floormaster currently consumes 16,651kWh of electricity a year which amounts to 3,220kg of CO2 emissions and costs nearly £8,000 in bills.
Floormaster’s 15.3kWp PV system is expected to generate 13,000kWh of renewable energy a year and reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 2,613kg a year. The panels should save the business more than £3,500 a year on energy bills.
Net Zero Barnsley business development manager, Kevin Steel, said: “For any business which owns its own premises investing in solar panels can be an excellent way to cut carbon emissions and energy bills in one swoop.
“The team at Floormaster are normally very focused on what’s under our feet, so it was very satisfying to help them look up to their roof and invest in the future sustainability of their family business.”
Floormaster was established in the 1980s by Deacey’s parents Ian and Julie, and supplies and fits carpets, laminate, wood and vinyl flooring for customers across Yorkshire. Its showroom is at Claycliffe Business Park.
