Hospiscare branches out to caring for the environment

Exeter charity Hospiscare, which provides dedicated expert care and support for local people with a terminal diagnosis, has now added helping the environment to its CV after installing a Biomass boiler through funding from the ScottishPower Green Energy Trust.

The charity, which has been providing care and support to patients and families for 30 years in Devon, has replaced its outdated gas boiler heating system with a modern and environmentally friendly biomass wood pellet system after being granted £25,000 of funding.

With annual running costs reaching 5million pounds a year to care for over 2,000 patients and their families, Hospiscare, with help from ScottishPower Green Energy Trust, will secure the long-term future of the facility by reducing its annual heating costs using the sustainable heating source.

The new 140kW system powers the central heating and hot water boilers in the 12-bedroom hospice.

The wood fuelled heating system provides a low carbon alternative to traditional heating methods and as the woodchip fuel is sourced locally, also provides jobs for the surrounding community.

Alison McKean, senior environmental and social policy manager at ScottishPower, said: "The ScottishPower Green Energy Trust is always extremely keen to help fund renewable energy projects with a genuine commitment to the communities where they are based.

“We're delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile charity in its work to not only provide the best care for its patients, but become more eco-friendly and energy efficient. The funding has provided a modern sustainable centre for Hospiscare that will benefit everyone that uses the facility and will continue to do so for many years to come.”