As the National Trust’s iconic Victorian Steam Yacht, Gondola, sets sail on its maiden voyage of 2008 a magnificent plume of white steam gushes from the chimney. But instead of coal burning away in the boiler, the crew have switched to renewable fuel and slashed the emissions by an amazing 90 per cent.
© NTPL / Mike Williams
The team on the Gondola have been on a journey to find the best way to lessen the impact of the yacht on the environment. They have replaced the coal, which fired the yacht, and is imported from Poland and Russia, with a biomass alternative, made with waste from wood manufacturing plants in nearby North Wales. By switching to this renewable and local source of fuel, the yacht will reduce its emissions from 105 tonnes of carbon each season to just 10 tonnes.
It’s not just the emissions that will be cut by switching to wood. Waste will also be down on previous seasons. Burning coal produces approximately five tonnes of ash each year, but the new wooden logs will produce only half a ton. This ash can then be recycled again and used as fertiliser.
Alongside changing the fuel supply, the team took further steps to reduce emissions. They have improved the insulation on the boiler by fitting lagging bags to the valves and boiler dome. And by adding extra blankets over the boiler at night and another over the furnace front has retained heat and saved on fuel needed to relight the boiler in the morning.
This project is part of an ongoing commitment by the National Trust to lessen its environmental footprint. From installing solar panels on Grade I listed buildings to sourcing food from its kitchen gardens there are a wide range of projects designed to reduce waste, and cut energy and water usage.
Gareth Thomas, National Trust Environmental Practices Adviser in the North West, says:
'Climate change is the biggest challenge facing us all. By greening the historic Gondola the National Trust is demonstrating its commitment to reduce its own carbon footprint and showing how this can work by using a mixture of new and traditional technology.'
Gondola is a re-built elegant steam yacht, sailing across Coniston Water in the Lake District from April to October. Operating seven days a week from Coniston Pier to Brantwood Jetty, the journey now incorporates a stop at Monk Coniston on weekends.
|
