Harley Equestrian has seen remarkable growth since its start as a small village shop in 1996. Today, the equestrian retail outlet located 20 minutes from Daventry stands as one of the UK’s largest independent equestrian shops, featuring a dedicated racing department, a lifestyle shop, and an award-winning cafe.
Despite the success of the business over the years, the team at Harley Equestrian recognised their growth brought new challenges, in particular to their environmental impact. As a business with extensive premises, they were aware of the need to reduce their carbon footprint but were uncertain about the most effective measures to take.
Upon joining the Net Zero West Northants programme, Harley Equestrian worked with a Net Zero Adviser to conduct a thorough carbon footprint assessment. This revealed that a major source of their carbon emissions came from the more than 120 fluorescent strip lights used throughout their large premises. These lights, running for 65 hours a week, were consuming 29,158 kWh of electricity ever year, equivalent to the annual energy use of three homes!
This highlighted an urgent need to find a more sustainable solution.
After identifying the energy-churning lighting issue, Harley Equestrian decided that upgrading to LED lighting would be the most effective initial step in reducing their carbon footprint. LED lights would offer a 43% reduction in energy consumption, resulting in an annual saving of 18,000 kWh and decreasing their carbon emissions by approximately four tonnes (which is equivalent to the weight of two adult rhinos!).
The switch to LED lighting also promised additional benefits beyond energy savings. The modern, natural-temperature lighting would enhance the aesthetics of the premises, creating a more inviting atmosphere and improved shopping experience.
Financially, the decision was a smart investment, as with the support of the Net Zero West Northants grant, Harley Equestrian’s return on investment was estimated to be under two years, making it a winning project both economically and environmentally.
The immediate impact of this upgrade was evident as soon as Harley Equestrian completed the project with the help of a £9,000 grant from the Net Zero West Northants programme.
The removal of over four tonnes of CO₂e from their carbon footprint is a major step towards the business’s long-term sustainability goals of cutting further costs and emissions effectively.
"The Net Zero team made the grant process quick and easy”, said Martin Ledger of Harley Equestrian, “which allowed us to upgrade our lighting at a fraction of the cost and start making immediate savings on our electricity use. The process also made us aware of our carbon footprint and we are now planning to make small changes within the business to reduce our impact on the environment."
Harley Equestrian’s participation in the Net Zero West Northants programme displays how a business can reduce its environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.
For businesses interested in taking similar steps, the Net Zero West Northants programme offers valuable assistance.
Learn more about how you can save money and reduce your carbon footprint on the Net Zero West Northants homepage.
To discuss a project, please contact us at netzero@ngagesolutions.co.uk