Posted on Tuesday 10th September 2024
Care Manager of The Old Rectory and Hanford Manor care homes, Charlotte Buckley, with Pip the dog.
A family-run care home in Staffordshire has been awarded a grant to cut down their energy bills – and they are urging other local businesses to reap the benefits of Green Solutions funding before time runs out.
HR Care Homes, which operates The Old Rectory care home in Fradswell, applied to the Green Solutions Scheme managed by Staffordshire County Council in affiliation with the Business Energy Advice Service to explore ways to make their service more energy efficient.
Charlotte Buckley, Care Manager of The Old Rectory, said:
“We are a small care home located in a rural area. Following a free energy assessment, we discovered that switching to solar panels could save us a significant amount on our annual energy bills. With a grant covering 50% of the costs, it was an easy decision for us.
“We highly recommend the Green Solutions scheme to any care homes considering a move towards greater sustainability.”
The Staffordshire Green Solutions scheme offers businesses financial support to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the scheme, businesses can get a free energy assessment, free carbon literacy training and a grant of up to £100,000 to make sustainable changes.
Eligible businesses may also be eligible for a loan to progress green project. Loans from between £5,000 and £200,000 would be interest-free and repayable within two years.
Simon Tagg, Staffordshire County Councils Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change said:
“Participating in the Green Solutions Scheme not only helps businesses reduce their energy costs but also plays a role in making Staffordshire sustainable.
“By adopting energy-efficient measures, businesses can significantly lower their carbon footprint while enjoying long-term financial benefits. I strongly encourage all eligible businesses to take advantage of this opportunity while the funding is still available.”
Funding for the scheme will end in October 2024, so businesses have a limited time to apply for a grant.
Businesses interested in applying for the Staffordshire Green Solutions scheme can find out more at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/greensolutions.
Watch on YouTube: Care home gets solar panels as part of Staffordshire’s Green Solutions Funding Scheme