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Commitment to Sustainability

Here at Kipling House Barn, we are committed to being sustainable to help better our earth and help protect our community, our farm and our countryside by encouraging local flora and fauna to succeed and the local economy to thrive.

 

 

Energy

Ground Source Heat

  • During the construction, Sarah Soanes took the executive decision to use ground-source heating to supply the underfloor heating to the ground floor and upstairs radiators, and the hot water from the taps and showers.
  • The Barn has absolutely no gas and is solely heated by the ground source heat pump. There is a log burner in the kitchen but it is always warm that this is mainly just for ambience if guests choose to.
  • Ground source heat pumps work by circulating glycol (antifreeze) around a collector pipe, which is buried in the ground. Heat from the ground is then absorbed into the fluid and then passed through a heat exchange into the ground source heat pump, where it is concentrated for use in the Barn.
  • Ground source heat pumps produce lower carbon emissions than most fossil fuel appliances, they can convert 1 kilowatt of electricity into 4.5 kilowatts of heat, meaning they can be 450% efficient. For comparison, an A-Rated combination boiler can only turn 1 kilowatt of gas or oil into 0.9 kilowatts of heat, meaning they are 90% efficient.

**The EcoForest ecoGeo 3-12kW has a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of 3.75 or 375% efficiency at a flow temperature of 55 degrees.
At a flow temperature of 35 degrees, this increases to 5.05 or 505% efficiency.

Solar

  • The Soanes family have started the process of installing solar panels to roof of the agricultural shed at Kipling House Farm.
  • The majority of this power will be used by the Barn as well as the Farm House and Cottage adjacent the Barn. A small amount will be used by the farm buildings which really is just lighting for the sheds.
  • When this solar energy is used it will power the ground-source heat exchange making the Barn’s energy consumption carbon neutral.
  • We hope that the solar panels will begin construction in Autumn of 2023.

Electric Car Charging

  • We have two electric car charging points. These are simple easy to use and free to use for guests.

 

Local Produce and Local Support

  • The cleaning team we use are an independent team based in Market Weighton.
  • The laundry company we use are independent and based in Beverley.
  • All maintenance and updating of the Barn we try to use local tradesmen and purchase items locally or from independent companies where possible.
  • Our ‘gift hamper’ is sourced locally where possible, including Yorkshire Crisps, Sarah Soanes’ honey, Yorkshire popcorn and when available, fresh sourdough from Luke’s Bakery based in Brough.
  • We recommend suppliers to guests for celebration activities and local restaurants, all of these are local and independent suppliers.

 

Recycling

  • We encourage recycling and use the East Riding Council waste disposal service.
  • We have multiple sheets in the Barn explaining what can be recycled and where the waste goes.
  • We are in the process of creating a ‘Hen Party Box’ which has lots of party supplies left behind by previous hen groups. We hope this will be available before the end of 2023.
  • We supply tea and coffee which is refilled from larger tins.

 

Biodiversity

  • We encourage biodiversity within the Barn courtyard and on our farm.
  • We aim to have flowering plants all year and bat, swallow and owl boxes.
  • We are working with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to help maintain and improve the Dew Ponds at Kipling House Farm which brings a host of flora and fauna.
  • We have planted some wildflower patches at Kipling House Farm and have undergone some woodland maintenance.
  • We are enrolled in the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme which is a set of standards relating to animal welfare, food safety, traceability and environmental protection.

Cleaning and Detergents

  • We are making the change over to using eco-friendly cleaning products and detergents such as Eco-ver, Method, Faith In Nature and organic mixes (vinegar, lemon water) where possible.
  • The Body and Hand wash we supply is from Faith In Nature and is refilled from larger containers.