Investing in measures to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions

About Tidyco

Tidyco has a climate control division that designs and installs innovative industrial heating and air conditioning systems. The company exports globally to around 50 countries.  

Why did they engage with DE-Carbonise

Tidyco identified a business case for becoming more energy-efficient and has made an ongoing commitment to becoming low carbon by investing in measures to reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions. The firm previously invested over £100,000 in a 50kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system, to meet some of the company’s electricity demand from renewable solar energy. The system produces over 38,000kWh of electricity per year, saving 20 tonnes of carbon emissions. 

An audit as part of the first phase of the project identified an opportunity to make significant cost and energy savings by upgrading the lighting in their premises. The company received a grant of £16,000. Each year, this investment in LED lighting saves twelve tonnes of carbon emissions. When the company expanded into an adjoining unit in 2021, they contacted the DE-Carbonise team to ascertain how best to make it energy efficient. 

What has been the impact of working with DE-Carbonise?

The initial assessment of the new unit resulted in a grant of £11,082 towards more efficient heating and sensor-controlled, dimmable LED lighting saving 7.6 tonnes of carbon annually. 

The company applied for a second grant from the project and were awarded £15,423 towards the cost of installing a 46.6kWp solar photovoltaic system on their new unit.

The energy efficient and energy generating measures fitted to the new unit save Tidyco over £11,000 per year and reduce their annual carbon emissions by 16 tonnes.  The entire site, comprising three different units, now has LED lights controlled by daylight and movement sensors.  

The company also invested in a programmer for LED panels in all their offices, to adjust the lighting level to suit individual staff and business activities in different areas. 

“Tidyco has a more efficient lighting system using 60% less energy so it’s win-win all round” said Philip Mason, Production Director.

This year, the company achieved the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard accreditation and attributed their success in part to the assistance that the DE-Carbonise project provided.  

Philip Mason, Tidyco’s Production Director, stated:

“So far, we have managed to introduce packaging recycling, EV charging points, solar panels, and LED lighting. This has only been possible through the technical and financial support from Derby City

Council’s DE-Carbonise initiative to whom we owe a debt of gratitude.”  

The company has also entered the electric vehicle sector, by training staff to install electric vehicle charge points and by fabricating metal EV charge point protection barriers. 

Next Steps

The company will continue to work to maintain their ISO 14001 accreditation and to implement further carbon and resource saving measures within its site and business activities as opportunities arise.

Impact data

Grant 1

• Annual Energy Saving (kWh): 35,880
• Annual Carbon saving (KgCO₂e): 7,567
• Annual Cost Saving: £2,931
• Value of Grant: £9,081.82

Grant 2

• Annual Energy Saving (kWh): 36,702
• Annual Carbon saving (KgCO₂e): 8,483
• Annual Cost Saving: £6,871
• Value of Grant: £15,423.02

About DE-Carbonise

DE-Carbonise is a three year collaboration between the University of Derby, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council, which started in November 2019. The collaboration is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and follows on from the successful D2 Energy Efficiency/Low Carbon project.

Get in contact with us

To find out about current support available for your business in reducing your environmental impact, or your journey to net-zero. Please get in contact with our business gateway team.

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