Ecotricity partner with English Heritage in sustainability scheme

Ecotricity has launched a new partnership with English Heritage which will see some of the country’s most historic sites become more environmentally sustainable.

English Heritage will appoint twenty green energy champions who will be mentored by Ecotricity to improve energy efficiency and lower energy consumption across their top twenty sites.

A new Ecotricity sign up offer has also been set up, which means that the green energy company will donate money to English Heritage for everyone who switches their energy supply through the offer.

Those donations will fund the creation of a new, full-time national energy manager role at English Heritage, who will be responsible for making their sites more sustainable, reduce their carbon emissions and introduce cost and environmental savings.

Ecotricity said that they hope the partnership will ‘improve the charity’s environmental credentials and encourage members, employees and volunteers to consider their own carbon footprint.’

Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said: ‘English Heritage are responsible for some of our oldest and most beautiful sites, but have the vision to be involved with renewable energy schemes – which we think of as future heritage.

‘History doesn’t stand still and neither are English Heritage, which is great to see.

English Heritage added that they want to ‘create inspiring visitor experiences that bring the story of England to life, while making sure that their historic sites and artefacts are expertly cared for, so that they can be enjoyed by future generations.’

Rob Woodside, estates director at English Heritage, said: ‘We are delighted to be partnering with Ecotricity, the world’s first green electricity company. As a new charity with ambitions to become entirely financially independent by 2023, English Heritage needs to be looking at different ways in which it can save money and our new partnership with Ecotricity will enable English Heritage to do just that.

‘With Ecotricity’s support, we will effectively monitor and review energy consumption at our collection of over 400 historic sites, putting environmental sustainability first to help improve the charity’s green credentials and encourage English Heritage Members, staff and volunteers to consider their own carbon footprint.’

Last month, Environmental Journal interviewed Mr Vince about how to run a sustainable football club.