Biomass, bats and boilers: Killerton goes green

Killerton House has moved away from oil-fired heating by installing biomass boilers powered by sustainably sourced wood pellets.

The boilers will be powered by 55 tonnes of wood pellets a year, improving energy efficiency, sustainability and reliability inside the historic property. The switch will save the charity around 24,000 litres of oil and almost £14,000 in running costs a year.

The old boilers were in the basement of the 18th century house, alongside a colony of lesser horseshoe bats. As recommended by a bat survey undertaken before the work began, great care was taken to prevent obstruction to flight paths during the project, and work inside the house was avoided during the April to September maternity roost. A recent bat count has revealed that numbers have increased over the last year.

The successful completion of the project marks another key milestone in the National Trust’s £33 million investment programme in renewable energy, supported by the charity’s green energy partner, the 100% renewable electricity and green gas supplier, Good Energy.

Peter Bee, a building surveyor, who managed the project, said: “Killerton joins a host of renewable energy projects happening across the Trust, supporting our Grow Your Own commitment. As a conservation charity, we’ve pledged to get places off oil and produce fifty percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020. This biomass project will help towards this national target.”

The boilers, installed by local Tiverton business, Treco, have a combined capacity of 210Kw which is equivalent to heating 15 average UK homes. Killerton’s skilled building team have worked alongside Treco to deliver the project by building the biomass chimney and refurbishing outbuildings to become the new the boiler house.

Phillip Smart, general manager of Killerton, said: “We’re delighted to have switched to biomass and to be playing our part in the strategy to go greener. We have a responsibility to look after Killerton by making long-term decisions that will futureproof the property.

“The project gives us a more reliable heating system for 400 volunteers, 60 members of staff and 220,000 visitors – not forgetting the bats.”

Sustainable woodlands on the Killerton estate supply the local wood chip and fuel industry while award-winning estate charcoal and logs are available to purchase and their revenue used to support vital conservation work at Killerton.