Birmingham Friends of the Earth needs your help to fund energy-saving plans to help it continue to support communities, people & the planet
The Warehouse in Digbeth is the beloved home of Birmingham Friends of the Earth (BFoE) and a number of purpose-driven enterprises and charities.
It is also a central hub and safe space for many community interest groups and activists to meet, share ideas and take action to tackle the biggest issues affecting communities, people and the planet.
It has been at the forefront of positive environmental change since BFoE took residency in the 1970s and continues to set standards for more sustainable ways of living and working. It hosts a Cafe run by Birmingham Race Impact Group, bike shop Sprocket Cycles, Voce Books bookshop and a wildlife garden.
A powerhouse for positive change, this also extends to the building itself. While The Warehouse’s age and history forms part of its charm, it also means it isn’t as energy efficient as it could be.
But together with your support, Birmingham Friends of the Earth have an opportunity to change that by decarbonising it through a number of energy efficient renovations.
To bring our vision to life, and ensure The Warehouse can continue to support vital activism and communities for many years to come – and building on the success of our last Share Offer – we are launching a new Share Offer to raise up to £46,660.
The funds will go towards the installation of energy saving measures designed to reduce our carbon footprint while setting the standard for best practice in sustainable living and working.
Launching their new share offer
The Share Offer is eligible for match funding, meaning that 33% of the total raised will be a grant from the Cooperatives UK Energy Sharematch scheme. So the more we can raise, the more grant funding we can access to boost our funds and enable us to carry out more of the renovations that the building needs.
But they need YOUR help to do it!
They are offering anyone who invests an interest rate of 2-3% on their share capital. Delivering a financial return is not the primary objective but we do want to hit our target and recognise our supporters. Share capital is also eligible for withdrawal, subject to us having the funds available.
Following comprehensive investigation, building surveys and expert counsel, they have created a plan for a programme of proposed works that balance social, environmental and financial returns based on different amounts of capital that they hope to raise.
They hope to achieve our maximum fundraising target but we have drawn up a number of options prioritising the work that needs doing against different fundraising amounts (based on a minimum and a maximum target).
Minimum fundraising target £11,100 (boosted to £16,700 with the Cooperatives UK Energy Sharematch scheme)
The minimum target would enable them to install wall insulation and a battery to store solar powered electricity generated on-site. This would be really helpful, but by itself doesn’t reach the scale of investment the building needs.
Maximum fundraising target £31,262 (boosted to £46,660 with the Cooperatives UK Energy Sharematch scheme)
If they can reach our maximum target we can also install additional solar panels, switch to a low temperature heating system in readiness for an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) and make our windows energy efficient (secondary glazing, double glazing and draught-proofing).
Decarbonising The Warehouse
Not only will these measures future proof the building and enable it to continue its mission of being a hub for positive environmental change across the city and beyond but it will also deliver the following environmental returns:
- Reduce the carbon footprint by between 900kg and 2,100kg per year
- Reduce energy bills by between £740 and £3,660 per year
- Enable a switch from a gas-powered boiler to an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) within 4-5 years
- Improve thermal comfort and attractiveness of the affected building spaces, supporting the development and growth of community organisations.
Setting the standard for community-led decarbonisation
Achieving the works set out in their stretch target will also enable The Warehouse to become an example of best practice for further regeneration projects in Birmingham and beyond by demonstrating what successful community-led decarbonisation investment looks like.
Strengthening Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s role as a bastion for sustainable living and working, they can inspire others to take action by demonstrating practical retrofitting in action – which could be replicated in older buildings elsewhere. Following completion of the project they could also provide data highlighting the carbon savings while setting the standard for similar projects across the UK.
