Biomass boiler fits in perfectly with historic UK accommodation

A UK charity, the Gorning Heath Almshouses, has used a National Lottery grant to purchase a biomass boiler to help heat its buildings.

The £50,000 (€58,600) windfall was put towards a £155,000 system that will burn wood pellets on behalf of the charity to heat low-cost housing for 17 pensioners. The almshouses, which are nearly 300 years old and Grade One listed, were previously heated by seven oil boilers.

‘We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint and save money,’ says trustee Garry Foster. ‘A biomass boiler fitted our requirements perfectly and could be sensitively installed to preserve the building’s integrity. We are now installing sheep’s wool as roof insulation to further help to reduce heat bills.’

The rest of the system’s cost was raised via fund-raising and additional grants from other charitable trusts.