Royal recruit joins carbon-cutting network

The Royal Household - which operates at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle, The Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Queen's Galleries - has become the latest organisation to sign up to the not-for-profit network, Fit for the Future.


Fit for the Future Network celebrates its one-year anniversary this month, having been launched by the National Trust and sustainable energy charity Ashden in November 2013. The network now has an international membership of 85 land-owning, charitable and sustainability organisations.

Other organisations to have joined the network include the RNLI, Church of England, RSPB, Oxfam, YHA (England and Wales), Northern Rail, the University of Oxford and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, as well as several local authorities and schools.

Together, member organisations look after 18 world heritage sites and more than 665,000 hectares and a system has been developed by the Network so that members can share advice and offer feedback on energy saving and generation projects.

The National Trust’s marine source heat pump scheme, which heats the 18th century Plas Newydd mansion on Anglesey, has provided a learning resource for network members.

Sharing solutions

National Trust director general Helen Ghosh said: “To look after the landscapes, wildlife and heritage we love as a nation, we need to do everything we can to reduce carbon emissions. When you see years of coastal erosion take place in a matter of months and are battling the destruction of flooding, new pests and diseases on our natural and historic heritage, you have to be concerned about climate change and its effects.

“The Fit for the Future Network provides a real opportunity to harness the power of many for the benefit of our landscape. It helps the National Trust and other organisations share innovative solutions and work together to achieve greater things. By sharing our learning and expertise, we can also spend less, which means more money for each of our charitable objectives.”

Ashden founder director Sarah Butler-Sloss said: “At Ashden we’ve learned that peer-to-peer learning is invaluable in spreading best practice in saving energy, cutting fuel bills and reducing carbon emissions, and the rapid growth of the Network demonstrates that many others feel the same.

“The fact that such a diverse range of organisations is now on-board gives us renewed hope that heritage buildings can dramatically reduce their carbon emissions.”

Last month, edie reported that the National Trust had switched on its 100kW capacity hydro turbine in Snowdonia as part of the £3.5m pilot phase of its Renewable Energy Investment project.

Lois Vallely

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe