The new set-up also powers ovens and tumble driers which were previously fuelled by LPG cylinders. Mr Carden no longer has to find storage space for cylinders, bulk gas is cheaper too, and he no longer has to think about when to order fuel as his tanks are topped up automatically:
“I’m really pleased with the way things have gone, really happy. It was a major job but it’s running well now and everybody is seeing the improvements that I’m making. And hopefully come summer I’ll see even more benefits because I’ll be able to switch my boilers off and regulate it much more.”
Chui Green, Technical Sales Manager at AvantiGas, said she had worked closely with Mr Carden to deliver the solution that was right for Stinchcombe:
“With care homes, the need for consistent, comfortable and controllable heat is paramount, because of the vulnerability of the residents. And with off-grid care homes in older or listed buildings it’s often harder to ensure efficiency due to factors such as solid walls, limited insulation etc. Selecting a more efficient fuel or upgrading the boiler ensures cheaper running costs – all the more important when budgets are squeezed and the cost of delivering quality healthcare is going up. By controlling running costs, a care home like Stinchcombe can be more competitive.”
When Mr Carden was first considering his options to replace the troublesome oil boilers and end the constant worry of system break-downs, he looked into mains gas as a possibility. The mains supply runs along the road just outside Stinchcombe Manor, but capital costs were prohibitive:
“To bring in natural gas would have cost about £15,000 just for the groundworks, and the new connection, and then there’s the boilers and everything else. But Chui just gave me a courtesy call one day, and then we got together and sorted it all out.”