Saving energy and money

Founded in the 1830s as an ironmongers, Wiltshire-based TH White today generates a £100m-a-year turnover with interests in car retailing, agricultural and construction equipment, wind turbines, biomass boilers and solar panels.

Director Alex Scott said the group produces about 55,000 litres of waste oil a year, collected by licensed contractors under a rebated scheme of 5p to 10p a litre. However, two sites, one agricultural and the other its Fiat outlet in Swindon, use waste oil for heating. The latter uses state-of-the-art energy saving technology, with hot water fed to foam-backed radiator panels in the roof, producing an ambient temperature of 15 degrees.

 “Swindon generates 6,000 to 7,000 litres of waste oil a year, enough to make us self-sufficient in heating and saving around £5,000 a year,” said Scott. He said the cost of installation, plus twice-yearly maintenance, was recouped in less than three years.

The site also has solar panels capable of generating 50kw of electricity, low-voltage LED lighting, rainwater collection for car washing and toilet flushing, and fencing made from recycled plastic.