Commercial Solar Case Study – Fern Lodge Care Home

Braintree Health Centre is a registered care home that provides personal care and support for people with learning disabilities.
Fern Lodge is a purpose built facility situated in pleasant secluded surroundings in a semi rural location just outside of Braintree.

Fern lodge and their new small commercial solar PV system

With around the clock care and a high demand for electricity during the day, Commercial Solar PV was an ‘obvious’ choice for Mrs. Jenny Woolliams, Manager of the care home.

The 4kWp installed in December 2011 will provide the Centre with over 3,200 units of energy (kWh) per year, saving them over £400 in energy costs. Thanks to the Feed-In-Tariff they will also receive more than £690 as an additional generation payment, thus receiving over £1,090 in their 1st year alone. More importantly, thanks to the payments being index linked, over the 25 year period they will generate a total income in excess of £40,000.

Mr. Andy Williams said, “Not only are we using the energy we are creating but we’re also being paid for creating it – it’s a win both ways.”

Since our visit back to Fern Lodge in May this year, the system has far outperformed what was expected, the energy bills have reduced dramatically and they have already received their first cheque back from their electricity supplier. The Centre has gained financially but also environmentally, as their CO2 footprint is reducing.

“I can’t wait to see how much money it’s going to save us in the coming summer months and to watch our bills decrease even more than they have done already,” said Mr. Williams. “Carmichael Browns were not the only people we saw during the process but  their professionalism, knowledge and the way in which they conducted themselves made the choice an easy one.”