Holiday Home Sustainability Standard promises energy and cost savings
Holiday homes leader Willerby has brought in a new holiday home sustainability standard which will make all its models more energy efficient, cheaper to run, and achieve carbon emission reductions. It says that the change, called the Willerby GreEN Standard, is the most significant innovation in the holiday homes industry since the introduction of double glazing and central heating.
The initiative now adopted by the firm will reduce the energy consumption of Willerby’s holiday homes by up to 28% compared with models built to the previous specification.
Reducing energy consumption by 28%
As a result, they will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and will emit at least 250kg less volume of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
That, says Willerby, is the equivalent of driving 1,350 miles in an average petrol or diesel car.
The results have been achieved by in-depth research by the company into the carbon impact of its holiday homes, including the embodied carbon in the materials it uses.
Measures now incorporated in the new GreEN Standard include a 100% increase in the thickness of exterior walls, and upgraded insulation in the walls, floors and roof.
Planning for a sustainable future
In addition, all windows and glazed exterior doors will feature argon gas-filled double glazing which emits only low levels of radiant heat energy.
Willerby CEO Peter Munk said: “Our industry has an important role to play in planning for a sustainable future, and I’m proud we’re leading the way with the introduction of this new holiday home sustainability standard.
Sustainability at the very heart of our product development
“It puts sustainability at the very heart of all our product development and manufacturing operations.
“Further improving the energy efficiency of our holiday homes has the additional benefit of enabling owners to make significant savings on their energy bills.
“Holiday park operators will also benefit from reduced running costs on their Willerby GreEN Standard rental units, and the increased sustainability of their operations.
“In short, this is great for the environment and good for the pocket.” added Mr Monk.
Reducing carbon impact of holiday homes
Willerby’s technical director and sustainability champion Simon Tempest, said: “As a leading player in the holiday parks industry, we recognise our responsibility to reduce the carbon impact of our operations.
“We’ve done a great deal in this area already, including installing biomass boilers at our Hull site which convert waste wood into energy to heat our manufacturing facilities, saving a thousand tonnes of C02 annually
“The introduction of the GreEN Standard is a major leap forward in our sustainability journey and a game-changing innovation for the holiday homes industry,” said Mr Tempest.
Willerby, which was founded in 1946, employs around 1,100 personnel across two sites covering 80 acres in Hull, and supports more than 400 suppliers.
For more information on the GreEN Standard, go to www.willerby.com/green-standard
