Between Summer and Autumn 2023 Scene conducted a carbon audit, and options appraisal for Garvald Home Farm, a community farming enterprise near Dolphinton, in the Scottish Borders. The farm is an operational dairy business, residential adult learning care home and educational facility, with designated on-site commercial and residential dwellings. The farm intends to diversify its operations, maintaining the site's sustainability values. An energy audit and options appraisal was required to best understand current resource demand - and to ascertain potential energy effiicency and energy generation opportunities across the farm.
Energy efficiency improvements (including structural insulation and lighting upgrades) were explored for the Grade-B listed 19th century farm complex. Energy generation opportunities, utilising the farm's surrounding topography and natural resources were also investigated. These included, a ground-mounted solar PV array; a micro-hydroelectrical system on a local stream; and small scale turbines - anticipated to be installed on higher elevated ground above the farm. Anaerobic digestion, installed to utilise the farm's assumed high production of waste - was also investigated.