Monday 15 August 2016

Now you can pass away sustainably too!

A funeral director has been shortlisted for a national energy efficiency and innovation award.

Ian Hazel Funerals in Sutton Coldfield has been awarded the highest possible Energy Performance Certificate (A) and recently installed a 78 solar panel array on its garage roof.

This generates enough electricity to cover around 70% of their annual needs and saves them on energy bills. It will find out if it wins the Love Energy Savings' Innovative Saver award in September 2016.

Managing Director Ian Hazel said: “We have offered green funerals for many years – providing ethically-sourced coffins made of natural materials, woodland burials and other products and services that have become increasingly important to bereaved families.

"However a couple of years ago we also started work to ensure that the operation of our business was as sensitive to the environment as the services we offer.

“When our newly built premises in Four Oaks were completed two years ago, we invested in energy-saving systems such as under floor heating, a “Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery” system, LED lighting with motion sensors and rainwater harvesting.

"Now we’ve reduced our energy requirements as much as we can, we’re harnessing solar technology to help us generate the power that we do need as naturally as possible. It is a huge investment for our family but will pay itself back in less than six years."

The firm is currently transitioning from petrol hearses to a more fuel-efficient and lower emission diesel fleet.