Castles, cabins, barns and shepherd huts: Network member, the Youth Hostel Association, has a diverse array of buildings across UK cities and beauty spots. We catch up with Andy Rimmer, part of YHA’s SHEQ Team, to find out how they’re making hundreds of sites Fit for the Future.

Green Spirit 

The YHA’s sustainability journey is already well underway, with technologies including solar PV, a water source heat pump, a wind turbine, two micro-hydros and several biomass boilers installed at sites across England and Wales; pretty impressive for a dedicated sustainability team of three! Aims to measure and reduce environmental impacts were outlined in a 2011 Green Spirit Plan. As well as the installation of renewables, impressive energy reductions have been achieved across a number of sites.

International Awards

Pen-y-Pass hostel, a former mountain lodge at the foot of Snowdon, achieved international recognition for its environmental credentials in 2013 as it was awarded top prize in Hostelling International’s Sustainability Awards. The £25,000 prize was used to part fund the installation of a biomass boiler, which has meant a massive energy reduction of 86% at the hostel.

Another year another win, as YHA Boggle Hole scooped the same prize in 2014 to fund a green refurb project.  The  refurb, which is currently underway, will include the installation of an air source heat pump and 10KW solar PV system. This will reduce annual carbon emissions at the hostel by 4.1 CO2e tonnes and energy use by 56%. Boggle Hole, located in a remote spot close to historic smuggler haunt Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire, is currently the second highest user of liquid propane gas in the entire YHA. The refurb will therefore have a significant impact on the organisation’s fossil fuel use.

In the pipeline 

From installing smart meters to replacing inefficient light bulbs with LEDs, the YHA are taking steps to improve their energy efficiency across the board. As well as their Boggle Hole refurb, the team also have several other renewable projects in the pipeline  and are keen to share lessons learnt with other Network members. Check out their news pages for the latest energy stories and follow them on Twitter