Nae Gas? Nae Oil? Nae Problem!

Working for Community Energy Scotland gives me the opportunity to meet wonderful people and marvel at the work they do. Recently, I have been involved with Garvald House, near West Linton. It is a haven for people with special needs, based round an old mansion house in the countryside, about 25 miles from Edinburgh.  

What strikes me about Garvald is that it is run as a community. With 32 resident, plus staff and clients who attend for day courses, the place has a harmonious routine about it. They bake bread, grow food, provide woodwork and craft activities like weaving as well, which allows everyone to express themselves in what they do. Garvald’s grounds run to over 70 acres and provide a place for productive work, whether in horticulture or maintenance.  

Residents of Garvald have been managing their woodland for many years, cutting, drying and transporting wood for some stoves in the houses on the campus. In 2010, work started on a bold new building, providing additional accommodation and care facilities. 

Like many charities which offer residential care, the energy bills at Garvald have been rising. With no mains gas and heating oil costing three times as much as it did just six years ago, there was an opportunity to match their own wood resource with their new energy needs. 

The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), delivered by Community Energy Scotland has provided £50,000 towards the costs of heating at Willow House. It has a new 80kw Vigas log boiler installed by Dunster Wood Boilers Ltd. – matched to a 3000 litre Akvaterm tank providing the heat they need.  

The new building is completed and they are now considering where to build a log shed to dry and store a winters worth of fuel. But the striking memory of Garvald for me is its residents and staff, making the most of their lives and their resources, in their own community.

Check out the photos of the new build and learn about what Garvald does so well at
http://www.garvaldwestlinton.org.uk/Item.aspx?item_id=6 

E Planning documents for the new build at the Scottish Border’s Council website
 http://eplanning.scotborders.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=KLE2S9NT02Q00 

Garvald Home Page http://www.garvaldwestlinton.org.uk/