Significant changes to the way people work and commute have been inspired by Bristol City Council’s ambitious green technology initiative

Significant changes to the way people work and commute have been inspired by Bristol City Council’s ambitious green technology initiative. 

A Salix team was invited to have a firsthand look at the technologies across multiple sites giving the council a chance to showcase its groundbreaking work towards achieving net zero. 

The team was able to explore how decarbonisation technologies, including air source heat pumps, LED lighting and fire doors are now being used at a film studio as well as council offices. 

The Bottle Yard Studios, South Bristol, have tapped into funds from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, under Salix Recycling Fund and the Welsman offices have received funding under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. 

Bristol City Council cabinet member for Housing Services and Energy, Cllr Kye Dudd said: “Bristol has a long track record of working with Salix to deliver carbon reduction projects and Salix funding has become a crucial tool in the council’s decarbonisation strategy. Since 2004 the council and Salix have been investing in low carbon projects through the Salix Recycling Fund and more recently through the Low Carbon Skills Fund and Public Sector Decarbonisation scheme grants. The council has utilised these different funds to help reduce emissions within the council’s corporate estate and to help grow the Bristol Heat Network by linking it to other public sector buildings throughout the city.” 

The Bottle Yard Studios, which opened its doors with eight filming stages in 2010 and expanded in 2022 to 11 stages across two sites, has emerged as a shining example of environmental responsibility.

The Studios, a Bristol City Council initiative, are the largest film and TV studios in the West of England. Productions filmed there include recent feature film The Undertaker starring Paul McGann, Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws (BBC One/Amazon Prime Video) and hit black comedy Rain Dogs (BBC One) starring Daisy May Cooper, as well as upcoming Jilly Cooper adaptation Rivals for Disney+ made by ITV.

With a commitment to active participation in reducing emissions, the Studios have been working to implement significant transformations to its main site buildings.

Work has included the installation of electrically powered radiant heating solutions and floor to ceiling wall insulation including insulated dock doors to the Studios’ Tank House 1 and Tank House 2, which previously housed a winery and bottle plant for more than 50 years.

The insulation project, with a loan value of £477, 250 from Salix through the Recycling Fund, delivered on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, has proven to be a game-changer for The Bottle Yard Studios’ efforts to decarbonise its main site.

The addition of LED radiant heaters has meant that visiting production clients have no longer needed to bring their own heating, and the wall insulation has helped reduced heat loss by approximately 85%, according to Katherine Nash, Business Operations Manager and Sustainability Lead at the studios.

The installation of these new technologies - coupled with the Studios other sustainability achievements including a groundbreaking community-owned 1MW rooftop PV array installed at its new neighbouring premium facility, TBY2 - have led The Bottle Yard to become a beacon for economic sustainability in the city, triggering a whole range of positive results.

The improvements at the main site have helped to elevate the sustainable profile of the business, helping it attract larger productions that prioritise filming at a sustainable facility to obtain their industry-standard albert accreditation. This in turn has helped improve job sustainability at the main site, which during its busiest periods, can accommodate up to six film or TV productions at once, each employing up to 200 employees.

The economic impact of this thriving studio facility has been found to be significant; film and high-end TV productions made at The Bottle Yard Studios and on location with support from Bristol Film Office were estimated to have brought in £20.1m to the city in the financial year 2022-2023.

The project has achieved carbon savings and demonstrated the effective use of Salix funding to overcome tenant-landlord barriers in implementing energy projects in tenanted buildings.

The Welsman Offices, a council office in St. Paul’s, Bristol, has seen remarkable changes through Phase 1 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

The £336,500 funding, delivered by Salix on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, has helped pay for air source heat pumps - replacing the building’s ageing gas boilers and removing the need for gas on site.

Sharon Denner from Welsman Office, says, the project not only provided jobs and upskilled the contractors, but also addressed long-standing heating issues.

The new water source heat pump replaced an outdated 15-year-old heating system which had stopped working. It meant that around 140 workers faced cold winter months.

Sharon added the improvements have significantly enhanced staff wellbeing, with the building feeling warmer, enabling more people to come in the office more often.

People have even changed their commuting habits, choosing to run or cycle to work – as they now could use the showers.

The direct impact on people’s health, as well the environmental benefits that come with adopting a green commitment to everyday life, has emphasised the need for more creative thinking for decarbonisation and how to meet those challenges.

The funding from Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and the council’s contribution has been crucial in initiating these changes for the community.

Bristol City concerted efforts in embracing green technology have not only reduced emissions but also spurred economic growth, job creation, and an overall improvement in the quality of life for its residents.

Jon Buick, energy management project manager at Bristol City Council, said: “The city is now positioned as a leader in sustainable practices, setting an example for other communities to follow.”

Salix are proud to be part of Bristol City Council plan to decarbonise and help them achieve their 2030 net zero target.

Congratulations to all involved, we look forward to seeing what they do next.