Over the past year, we have been working to make the Melville-Knox Highland Christian Centre warmer, more energy-efficient and more sustainable. What was once an underused building with high heating costs is becoming a welcoming community facility that can be used throughout the year.
A major part of this transformation has now been completed. With support from the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), we have installed a new renewable energy system combining air-source heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage. The result is a warmer, more energy-efficient building and a more sustainable future for the Centre.
The work completed so far covers the back half of the building. We have deliberately approached the project in stages, allowing us to make a significant improvement to the Centre while continuing to develop plans for the rest of the building.
We hope to build on this work by seeking further funding to improve the heating and renewable energy provision in the front half of the Centre. This would allow us to extend the benefits of efficient, low-carbon heating and renewable electricity across the whole building, helping us to create an even more sustainable community facility for the future.
A new heating and energy system
One of the biggest challenges in developing the Centre has been finding a way to heat the building efficiently while keeping it affordable to run. The new system brings together several technologies that work alongside one another. Air-source heat pumps provide efficient heating, while solar panels generate electricity from the sun and a battery allows some of that energy to be stored and used when it is needed.
The new air-source heat pumps installed at the Centre
Solar power and battery storage
The Centre now has 30 solar panels on the roof, generating renewable electricity from the sun. This electricity can be used within the building, while our battery storage system allows energy generated during the day to be stored and used when it is needed. Together, the solar panels and battery help us make better use of renewable energy generated on site and reduce our reliance on electricity from the grid.
Installing the solar panels
A warmer Centre for the community
The improvements are not simply about technology. They are helping us to make better use of the Centre as a place for people to meet, learn and take part in activities throughout the year. The improved heating and thermal comfort mean that the building is better suited to use during the colder months, when it was previously more difficult and expensive to heat.
This project has been made possible with the support of the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), which provided a grant of £63,091.83 towards the renewable energy improvements. We are very grateful for this support, which has enabled us to make a significant investment in the future of the Centre and in its ability to serve the local community.
Looking ahead
There is still more to do. The work completed so far is an important first step, but it covers only the back half of the building. We hope to build on this progress by seeking further funding to improve the heating and renewable energy provision in the front half of the Centre. In time, we hope this will allow us to extend the benefits of efficient, low-carbon heating and renewable electricity across the whole building, helping us to develop the Centre as a warm, sustainable and welcoming place for the local community.
We are grateful to everyone who has supported this project and helped us take this important step towards creating a more sustainable future for the Melville-Knox Highland Christian Centre.