Drop in bills as Mercury rising to green challenge

WHATEVER the weather, a business incubation centre in Gainsborough is certain to be making savings on its utility bills.

And Mercury House is living up to its name – as the temperatures rise, the costs go down.

INDOOR HARVEST: Manager Sadie Weller at the controls of the Mercury House rainwater harvesting system.
RAIN OR SHINE? Sadie Weller comes prepared – with an umbrella and solar panels!

But it makes no difference what's happening outside as the Lincolnshire County Council building is equipped with state-of-the- art technology.

One of the 'greenest' buildings in the county, the three-year-old office block off Foxby Lane has an abvious set of solar panels outside.

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And it also has a hi-tech rainwater harvesting system, which has just kicked in with the April showers.

Now the office complex is reaping the benefits.

Mercury House slashed its water bill last month with the use of the rainfall 'harvester'.

Centre manager Sadie Weller revealed that it cut its water costs by 80 per cent in April, compared with payouts in March.

Owners Lincolnshire County Council paid just £5 over the last four weeks, a drop from its £25 bill the month before.

Rainwater was used to cover nearly all demand for the building's toilets, which are used by 15 businesses.

Around 60 people work in the facility, which was built in 2008.

"The tank is full at the moment and that will probably last us through the next month, so even if we don't get any rain in May we will still feel the benefit," said Sadie.

"We don't have top-ups from the mains, so there is a cost benefit.

"But there is also an environmental benefit as we do like to be green – and that's a good selling point for our businesses."