The High Peak is a wonderful place to work. Having a joinery workshop at over 1100ft up is very scenic. In the summer, on a clear day, there is nowhere better in the world. The warmth, the atmosphere, and the birds signing.  However, in the winter it is a different story, and one huge drawback, THE COLD!!!!!!!!

Up here it can be dark, wet, windy, hailing and even snowing all in one day. It’s a blessing and a curse! How do I keep the cold and damp away whilst minimising waste and reducing the use of unsustainable energy sources? Personally, I heat my joinery using a 27kw wood burner run through the use of my waste materials. The heater combusts everything from offcuts, to sawdust, and wood shavings. This waste would need to be taken away for processing and recycling, adding carbon emissions each step of the journey. We combust this waste material to make the workshop a warmer and more pleasant environment to work in. We also help the environment by reducing the waste that has to be transported away from the workshop.

To lessen the impact further on the environment, the workshop is equipped with environmentally friendly LED lighting of various forms. This helps to reduce the daily energy requirements of the workshop dramatically whilst enhancing the working conditions and visibility.

Being energy efficient is beneficial to us all and the cost of upgrading can soon be reclaimed in reduced energy bills so there is no excuse for us all to do our bit and think of the world around us.

Ben