Local charity, LifeCare Edinburgh, has successfully secured funding and installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) system at their community hub and café on Cheyne Street in Edinburgh.
This project, funded by the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), will allow the charity to generate clean, renewable energy on-site, helping to significantly reduce energy costs and carbon footprint. With more than 47,000 visits to the Hub each year, this investment will have a lasting impact, not only on the building, but on the thousands of people who rely on the charity’s services.
Lowering the organisation’s energy bills will allow the charity to reinvest more into what matters most: supporting local older people – including those living with dementia and those experiencing loneliness and social isolation – while continuing to deliver a wide range of accessible activities that bring people of all ages from within the local community together.
The funding has also enabled us the installation of battery storage, meaning the can store and use more of the energy generated, further improving efficiency and resilience against rising energy costs.
Claire Montgomery, Communications and Fundraising Manager at LifeCare Edinburgh said: “We’re incredibly grateful to CARES for making this project possible, and to Culbertson Renewables Ltd for the fantastic work they did fitting the panels at The LifeCare Hub. This funding is not only helping us reduce our environmental impact, but it also means we can direct more resources into supporting older people across our community. It’s a win for both sustainability, and the people we’re here to support.”
This exciting project marks a key step in our commitment to sustainability and to supporting Scotland’s journey to net zero, demonstrating how community organisations can lead the way in tackling climate change while continuing to deliver vital frontline services.
