TRANSITION TOWN FORRES IS WINNING WITH BIOMASS

Transition Town Forres (TTF), located in Moray, Scotland, is a community that raises awareness of sustainable living and building local ecological resilience for the future. Windhager UK has become a part of TTF by supplying biomass heating.

TTF is all about sustainability and CO2 accountability and so it comes as no surprise that Windhager’s FireWIN pellet boiler was specified. Located in the main activity space, FireWIN is to act not only as a room heater but also a focal point for the community.

The transition movement has grown to now encompass more than 300 villages, neighbourhoods, towns, islands, cities and even councils in the UK and several thousand “transition initiatives” have started worldwide.

Marie Jacques, TTF Chairman who has visited the Windhager factory in Austria, commented, “We needed a fast response heating system with flexible programming to meet the changing needs of TTF. The pellet boiler is as controllable as an oil or gas boiler and can be operated with the timer or by manual override as and when required. It needs the self-contained hopper filling every few days from the wood pellet store, which is accessible from within the building. It is quiet, efficient and has the advantage of being a visible example of the use of bio fuel.”

Burning wood pellets was another tick in the box for TTF. Burning pellets is CO2 neutral, which means they only emit the same amount of CO2 that the wood absorbed during its growth. Pellets do not contribute to the greenhouse effect and make a valuable contribution to protecting the environment. As well as the FireWin, TTF has two solar thermal panels that contribute to the domestic hot water via a 210-litre hot water cylinder.

As the full range of biomass heating systems from Windhager UK are certified under the Microgeneration Scheme (MCS), all installations of Windhager boilers from 15 July 2009 will qualify for financial support through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheduled to be introduced this year.

The varied requirements of a modern central heating system are only matched by the different ways in which FireWin can be configured. Two power levels and several comfort levels, control systems and equipment provide a tailor-made heating solution that precisely matches personal needs.

Perfect for low energy buildings, the FireWIN has an output of 3.8kW to 12kW, more then sufficient for most spaces. FireWIN is available in four different colour compositions and has an appealing design that harmonises with most interiors.

Further information is available from Windhager UK on 01249 446616, email: enquiries@windhager.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.windhager.co.uk