Energy
At Bluestone, we believe it is important to conserve energy
because most energy is generated by burning fossil fuels, which are
not only running out, but release Carbon Dioxide (CO2) when burnt
which contributes to the effects of Climate Change.
At Bluestone, all heat for the Blue Lagoon and the Sports Centre
is generated from the biomass
energy centre. This is a renewable source of energy that is fuelled
from miscanthus and willow coppices; energy crops that are being
grown locally.
The biomass energy centre will significantly reduce our Carbon
Emissions by reducing the amount
of fossil fuels burnt to generate energy as well as being a model
for sustainable energy generation.
To maximise energy efficiency, all of the Bluestone lodges are
triple glazed and thickly insulated with
an EcoWarm concept, providing for the best thermal and sound
insulation, as well as 10” of insulation in the floors. In
addition, the lodges are built on concrete piles, reducing the
amount of concrete used
in construction (The cement industry is a significant CO2 polluter,
responsible for 8-10% of total CO2 pollution).
100 of the lodges are fitted with solar panels** to generate hot
water, using the sun’s natural energy
to warm up your water is the most sustainable source of energy
available.
In our offices, we have purchased flat screen monitors that use
less energy than conventional monitors; and we make sure everything
is switched off at night so we are not wasting any energy
unnecessarily.
** This project has been supported by the Welsh Assembly
Government and the European Union, through the Objective 1
programme.
Energy centre facts:
• Meeting Blue Lagoon’s heat demand of
12,000 Mw hours per year will take 6000 tonnes of wood and energy
crop fuel
• Meeting that demand with fuel oil
would require 2,400,000 litres every year
• The maximum heat delivery is 1.6 Mw
per hour
• Six thousand tonnes of miscanthus can
be produced from 400 hectares.
• Using wood and energy crops instead
of fuel oil means a saving in carbon dioxide emissions of 3000
tonnes a year
• Once energy crops are established, no
fertiliser or pesticides are used. Nor are they used in timber
production
• Miscanthus has one of the highest
energy ratios, 1:32. For every unit of energy required to produce
miscanthus fuel, 32 units of energy are obtained
• Harvesting of miscanthus uses
existing conventional farm mowers and balers, so no new machinery
is required for harvesting the crop
• Harvesting takes place from February
to early April