CAFRE recognised as an energy efficient College

In January this year the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) achieved re-certification under the Carbon Trust Standard.  This is in recognition of progress made in reducing their carbon footprint and significantly cutting energy costs.

The Carbon Trust Standard requires an organisation to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 2.5 percent a year and also measure up to a number of assessment criteria.  These include an energy reduction policy, good accounting processes for energy usage, investment in energy saving technologies and systems and also communication with staff members to involve everyone in the process.

CAFRE is one of only five organisations in Northern Ireland to obtain the Standard.  Significant savings have been made in reducing heating oil use and cutting electricity bills.  

The approach to this has been twofold.  A range of energy efficiency measures have been introduced such as upgrading oil boilers, installing better heating control systems in buildings and developing a culture of energy efficiency among the staff and students.

The second strand to reducing the carbon footprint is the adoption of renewable energy technologies, including on the farms and in the horticultural and food technology units.  Wind power, solar hot water systems, a heat pump and four biomass boilers all contribute to the College’s energy needs and reduce the fossil fuel consumption.  Almost 25 percent of the energy needs are met from renewable energy sources, with the biomass boilers being the single largest contributor.

The 300 kW biomass boiler on Enniskillen Campus will be on display on Wednesday 22 February during the Practical On-farm Renewable Energy event.  There will be regular tours to show the operation of the boiler and the delivery system for the locally grown wood chip.  The event runs from 1.30 to 10.00 pm and  will cover the full range of renewable technology options for the farming and rural community.  

Eric Long, Connor Maguire and David Trimble, CAFRE discuss the contribution the Enniskillen Campus biomass boiler made to the achievement of the Carbon Trust Standard for CAFRE. The boiler will be on display at a renewables event at Enniskillen Campus on 22 February at 1.30pm