One of the city’s most historic houses is set to boost its green credentials this month when work begins on the installation of a new biomass boiler.
The Lotherton scheme is part of a joint initiative which will see new biomass boilers installed at both Lotherton Hall and the Leeds City Council’s Herd Farm Activity Centre at Eccup.
[private]The new environmentally friendly boiler, which will only use virgin wood and allow for its clean white ash to be used as a fertiliser on the estate, is set to be turned on for the first time in spring 2015.
Also included in the programme of work will be the construction of a new boiler house within the walls of the old laundry room that is currently located at the back of Lotherton.
This sits aside a previous green scheme undertaken last year at Lotherton Hall that reduced electricity consumption through the introduction of LED lighting in all its main areas.
Part funded through an initiative that helps organisations and companies pay for their green energy, once completed, the new boiler will help reduce the carbon footprint and improve sustainability of the site, which in 2015 is also set to open newly refurbished Fashion Galleries.
Included as part of the planned work, which will support Lotherton Hall in one of its key ambitions to become a major museum of fashion and textiles, the redevelopment will create an up to date 21st century gallery space.
Featuring in the revamp will be modern cases, improved lighting and the chance to utilise technology which allow opportunities to include new elements like film and sound in the galleries.
When completed, Lotherton Hall will become one of the largest spaces in the north of England to provide a regular programme of fashion and textile exhibitions.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills said:
“A very exciting range of work is set to be undertaken at Lotherton Hall as part of our major Fashion Galleries refurbishment project, and it is great news that a new greener biomass boiler is set to be installed which will help make the house greener and more sustainable.
“Making all our museums and galleries in the city more environmentally friendly remains one of our key aims, and I look forward to more schemes such as this one being introduced in the future.”
Council Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for cleaner, stronger and safer communities, added:
“This is a great example of the city’s past working in tandem with its future, with some of the latest, environmentally friendly technology being incorporated into plans to improve one of our most prestigious and prominent locations.
“It’s a real statement of intent that somewhere like Lotherton Hall, which is so steeped in local history, will be doing its bit to make the city a more environmentally friendly and sustainable place.”[/private]
