Hillsborough Parish goes green
Increasing fuel costs and the desire to be more environmentally friendly has encouraged Hillsborough Parish to invest in wood pellet boilers. The move from older oil fired boilers is helping them to significantly reduce their carbon emissions and make substantial savings on their energy bills.
After careful consideration of the options, the Select Vestry went ahead with the installation of two 40kW wood pellet boilers along with a 2,500 litre buffer tank and heat meter. The pellets are stored in a silo and the fuel is transferred by augers when required. Maintenance to the system is carried out annually with ash removal every eight weeks; otherwise no regular attention is required.
While this decision meant a greater capital outlay, the availability of a Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment – ‘Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive scheme’, convinced the Select Vestry that this was the route to follow.
The RHI scheme is available for non–domestic buildings and financial support is received based on the amount of renewable energy generated and delivered on site. This will be reflected by regular RHI payments to the Parish Church.
The savings in fuel cost will be approximately £2,000.00 per year (at present figures) and with the regular RHI payments from DETI the operating costs will reduce substantially and the capital outlay will be recovered very quickly.
St Malachy’s is the first church in Northern Ireland to be accepted in to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
The main Contractor entrusted with the design and installation was Green Energy Engineering Ltd
www.geeltd.org
and the pellets ‘Brites’
www.brites.eu
are being supplied by Balcas.