It’s over 700 years old but 2009 has seen Chirk Castle, near Llangollen, Wales, brought bang up to date with some 21st century green energy modifications.
Some seven centuries since Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, built the castle as part of King Edward I’s chain of fortresses across the north of Wales, the National Trust Green Energy Fund has awarded the castle £23,500 for the installation of solar panels.
As part of major refurbishment works to the medieval building, npower solar has installed a roof-mounted solar thermal system to supply hot water to the castle during summer months. This improvement will undoubtedly be popular with the building’s residents, ensuring its future as the last Edward I Welsh castle still lived in today.
The installation of the solar system into the last Edward I castle that is still lived in will reduce the castle’s carbon footprint by over 4,000kg of CO2 per annum, and energy savings are anticipated to total 8,000kw per year.
Keith Jones, Environmental Practices Advisor for the National Trust in Wales, explained:
'These large buildings with their acres of roof are ideal for this type of technology. We have ensured that the panels are only fitted where appropriate to this grade one listed building, but it just goes to show that even in the most fragile of sites we all can do our bit.'
The installation of solar panels is one of several projects where npower has provided small scale renewable energy generation and other carbon saving projects at some of the Trust’s most sensitive heritage sites across England and Wales.
Chris James, solar expert for npower, explained: 'A common misconception around installing solar panels is that they require planning permission. However, this is only necessary on listed properties, or homes in protected areas.
'The residents of Chirk Castle will notice both financial and environmental benefits once the panels have been installed which will ultimately decrease both energy consumption and, in turn, energy bills. We’re sure King Edward I would be proud to see his castle embracing the 21st century.'
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