Location: Edinburgh

Technology: Air source heat pump, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage

CARES funding: £32,307.79 capital grant

Date installed/operational: February 2025

Background

The Balerno community centre is located just on the outskirts of Edinburgh and had been left unused since Covid-19. Balerno Village Trust wanted to create a vibrant community space and negotiated a lease agreement for the centre with the City of Edinburgh Council.

After taking on the lease, Balerno Village Trust discovered that the centre was cold, damp and uninviting for the local community to use. The centre also had significant energy costs, which made it hard to afford in the long term.

Project aims

The project aimed to improve the energy efficiency and environmental footprint of the centre so that it could be a warm and welcoming space for the local community. Balerno Village Trust applied to the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) and received a capital grant of £32,307.79.

Balerno Village Trust used the funding from CARES to install:

  • loft insulation
  • LED lighting
  • an air source heat pump
  • solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
  • battery storage.

Balerno Village Trust also had all the wiring replaced so they could install the solar PV panels. It also installed double glazing to reduce the centre’s heat loss, this work was paid with money donated by Harlaw Hyrdo.

Achievements and outcomes

The project was completed in February 2025. “Balerno Village Trust reported that it experienced a 50% reduction in the centre’s energy use from April to June 2024, compared to the previous year”.

The condensation in the centre has also reduced significantly which has led to less problems with mould. The community groups using the centre since the project was completed have commented on how much warmer the space feels too.

Balerno Village Trust notes that it wouldn’t have been able to carry out the project without the funding it got from CARES.

Lessons learned

Balerno Village Trust needed 50% more time than originally planned. Since the building is owned by the City of Edinburgh Council, it took longer to get permission for the works to go ahead and there were additional surveys to complete.

Balerno Village Trust also learned how important it is to have good wiring and distribution boards to support the solutions it put in place. Now, it has solid experience with solar panels and air source heating, it plans to use this knowledge in future projects.

Published August 2025.