By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated at 09:50, Saturday, 03 March 2012

Two of Carlisle’s landmark buildings have gone green.

David Kay, left, buildings manager for Carlisle council with owner of EcoLogicLiving Islam Pearson

The Sands Centre and the Civic Centre are producing their own electricity after solar panels were installed, potentially slashing thousands of pounds off their running costs.

Harraby-based renewables firm EcoLogicLiving installed the panels after beating a host of national companies to win the contract with Carlisle City Council.

It is estimated the technology will cut £5,000 a year from the combined energy bills save 26 tonnes of carbon.

Over 25 years, it is expected the scheme will bring savings of £266,000.

Islam Pearson, of Sprunston, near Carlisle, runs EcoLogicLiving with wife Judy. He said: “This was a fantastic contract for us to win and I’m immensely proud of the team for the tremendous job they’ve done.

“I think this is a great example of how a local company can compete and win prestigious contracts against national competitors.

“This is going to save a huge amount of money for taxpayers in Carlisle as well as reducing the carbon footprint of the tow buildings.

“We have done bigger jobs in the past, but nothing as prestigious as this.

“For me, it’s great have done this work on two such prominent buildings in my home town.”

The city council went ahead with scheme despite a Government decision to halve the subsidy paid to producers of solar electricity.

Councillors originally thought they had until this month to install the panels to lock into a guaranteed price for their electricity that would have brought savings of £500,000 over 25 years. However, the announcement brought forward the deadline to December, with schemes after that facing a much less generous tariff.

The scheme was approved at a meeting of the council’s executive in December and is expected to bring a six per cent return on investment.

EcoLogicLiving was launched by former property developes Mr and Mrs Pearson in 2009.

The company can design, supply and install heat-pumps, biomass boilers, solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, heat recovery, underfloor heating and rainwater harvesting.

First published at 09:05, Saturday, 03 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk