Barden Bunk Barn - Switching on the old barn

Near Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales, adjacent to the historic Barden Tower, is a converted barn. Barden Bunk Barn is let for weddings, walking parties and even film crews who enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings of Upper Wharfedale. Steve and Debbie Leathley, who run the Bunk Barn, wanted to improve the client offering by modernising its facilities, whilst reducing the money and time they spent on maintenance.

Neighbours who had received renewable energy advice and financial assistance from the York and North Yorkshire Business Environmental Forum recommended the service. As part of his strategy to become a more 'green' business Steve was happy to see how the Forum could help.

The Bunk Barn boiler needed attention. It broke down regularly; the thermostat and timer were ineffective, which was a constant worry with large groups of guests booking on a regular basis. Another concern was the time a breakdown technician took to attend because of the Bunk Barn's remote location.

After discussing their needs with the Business Environmental Co-ordinator, Steve and Debbie chose the most suitable boiler for the Bunk Barn. The next step was to get quotes and find a local installer. 'They couldn't have been more helpful' says Steve of the Business Environmental Forum, 'together we obtained all the quotes and found an excellent local plumber in Silsden who was able to install the new boiler quickly and efficiently. We would certainly use him again'

The grant also allowed for energy efficient lighting to be installed in the barn, resulting in a lot less time spent changing light bulbs that blow at awkward times.

Steve and Debbie would recommend the process to anyone who wants to save time and money. They were impressed by the specialist knowledge shown by the Forum and their help with the paperwork.

This has been an important step for the Barden Bunk Barn as plans for sustainable modernisation continue, with the saving of approximately 20% of their energy bills being invested into further development of the business.

YNYBEF provides Environmental Technology Grant through the 'Implementing Environmental Best Practice' scheme. The scheme enables eligible businesses to access up to £1500 in funding - matched at 50% by the business - to make recommended energy efficiency improvements and install energy efficient technologies including condensing boilers, insulation, low energy lighting and water control equipment.

The YNYBEF programme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward, and is managed by Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

For further information contact the Business Environmental Forum on 01904 554541.