Historic stable block gallops into the future

Historic stables visited by Mary Queen of Scots have been brought bang up to date with help from the ScottishPower Green Energy Trust.

Castlemilk stable block was an integral part of Castlemilk House, an impressive estate belonging to the Stuart Family, which dates back to the mid 15th century.

A massive renovation of the building has taken place over the last few years, including the installation of a new renewable energy heating system.

The stable block was used for many years by Glasgow City Council until it fell into complete disrepair in 1999.

Glasgow Building and Preservation Trust began the restoration work in 2005 and was awarded a grant from the Green Energy Trust last year.

Following its completion in July 2007, the building is now owned by the community through the specially-created Cassiltoun Trust.

Anne McChlery, Director of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, said: "Castlemilk Stables is about using our historic environment as a catalyst to regeneration.

"We were particularly delighted to have received funding from the ScottishPower Green Energy Trust which enabled the restored building to have a ground source heat pump system. This recycles the energy below ground and uses it to heat the building giving it the lowest possible carbon footprint.

"Achieving this sustainability goal was very important as the building is aspirational in every possible way, creating a better future from the past.

"Our organisation believes that saving and re-using existing buildings is the greenest possible thing you can do in the built environment.

The new system uses renewable energy and provides all the heating for the building through radiators and under-floor heating.
It will reduce the cost of heating the building by 50 per cent, which provides the Trust with reduced CO2 emissions and an estimated saving of 5,480 a year.

Alison McKean, Head of Environment at ScottishPower, said: "It was a real joy for ScottishPower to be able to help in the restoration of such a historically significant building, which has been a part of Glasgow's landscape for centuries.

"We are so pleased that the heating pump we contributed towards will not only help Cassiltoun Trust keep their costs down but are also environmentally friendly and, with the introduction of the display panel, they will provide all the users of the building with a chance to understand how the pump really works.

"The heat pump will be a colossal asset to the building, which is used as a nursery, offices and for adult learning classes. In keeping the running costs down, it increases the long-term viability of the building.

"A permanent display panel is being developed which will explain to the many users of the building about this type of sustainable technology."