Green2Go Projects

In early 2009, Green2Go installed an innovative bio-fuel generator in the Community 1st Cornwall development, Cornwall Food Production Unit (CFPU). CFPU was developed to provide food for hospitals across Cornwall and was built in an area of regeneration with economic, environmental and sustainable benefits at the forefront of its design. The unit gives the NHS in Cornwall greater scope to further increase the range of locally sourced produce allowing the development of more links with smaller, local suppliers, including organic producers, and the ability to offer more seasonal produce on hospital menus. Supporting these environmental and sustainability credentials, the new generator works by utilising waste used cooking oil from the production of the food prepared at the facility, and also from other public sector buildings in Cornwall, to provide heat and electricity for the unit. This benefits the environment in two ways: energy is generated on the premises rather than being purchased externally; and the waste oil is utilised rather than being sent to landfill. The generator provides a c85% reduction in lifecycle carbon compared with the same amount of energy provided from the National Grid and is deemed to be the highest level of sustainable fuel by government bodies such as BERR and the Department of Transport. Following its Enhanced Carbon Assessment the CFPU has achieved a highly coveted ‘A’ rating (a rating of between 0 and 25). This compares to a typical rating of 50 for an existing building of this type. In addition, CFPU is deemed to be carbon negative as it exports energy back to the grid when not being used within the building – it is expected to export over 500,000 kwh per year. An exemplar of sustainability.