Sometime ago, ASAN wanted to improve its environmental contribution through more sustainable business practices and so devised the ‘40 Shades of Green’ project

To move toward this aim, a post with a 12 month contract was created at the beginning of 2007 funded by ASAN and the EQUAL programme, a European Social Fund initiative administered by the Black Country Knowledge Society

A key output of the work was to disseminate information to the wider community on recycling and renewable energy. It was observed that much is going on around green issues in Wolverhampton but very little was being coordinated. It was felt that synergy could be achieved through like minded people coming together to accelerate change. To this end, members of the community and voluntary sector were invited to a workshop in June 2007 to share their ideas on how to realise Wolverhampton’s Green City plan (now Sustainable Community Strategy). Later in the year, individuals from the public and private sectors too looked at ways forward. The creation of the website has followed from all of this and the heart felt desire to make something happen through cooperation of all individuals and groups across the city and beyond

The main thrust of the Eco Broker work has been concerned with biomass heat and power

ASAN purchased All Saints Primary School which closed a few years ago and have recently been given the go ahead to start refurbishment works with funding from ABCD. The building is to be converted to a Workspace which will house a children’s centre, nursery, learning hub and business facilities. A biomass boiler will provide heat and hot water to the site using waste wood from ASAN’s Greenworks office furniture recycling operation. A wood waste to fuel processing plant has been designed and will be implemented in the spring of 2008

Originally, the idea was to install a small scale boiler capable of generating electricity in addition to heat. However, the idea was scrapped due to concerns over noise nuisance to residents. Other sites have been considered including The Baker Boot Factory and Crown Nail Works but a recent feasibility study has concluded the scheme is not viable

ASAN and other partners are currently working on an idea for a much larger community energy scheme so watch this space for further developments