A CENTRE that serves all ages in the community is celebrating going greener by generating its own power.
The Carrick Centre in Maybole celebrated another step towards its goal of sustainability by investing in solar panels.
The building, which hosts groups from Baby Steps to seniors’ lunches, is on a journey to become carbon neutral.
It started over a decade ago with a biomass boiler which heats the building, and the centre now boasts energy-efficient lighting, fridges and freezers, and the first accredited Community Green Transport Hub in the UK.
Now the centre has just installed 89 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof together with 40kw of battery storage.
The panels are funded by the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), with a grant of £53,107.
That was topped up by Net Zero funding of £13,277 from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.
The fund is administered by the North Carrick Community Benefit Company until 2028 for non-profit organisations to invest in low-carbon technologies.
Chair Marguerite Hunter Blair said: “By generating our own electricity and heat we are investing in the future of our community through improved social and environmental performance and delivering real cost savings.”
The solar plan has been welcomed by the centre’s board of trustees, two of whom are leading Church of Scotland ministers, Rev Paul Russell and Rev Karlien Becker.
Rev Russell praised the centre, which also houses a church, adding: “Going green is in line with the Church of Scotland’s policy on energy for all congregations to secure a sustainable future.
“A big thank you to Tanina Baronella, Paula Lennox and our generous funders for making this possible.”
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