Building services engineering company, GW Power and its sister company, sustainability consultancy, C3 Group, have expanded into new headquarters in Hull as part of a major investment totalling more than £600,000.
After acquiring the property on Goulton Street, which is just off the A63 Clive Sullivan Way, the building has been completely refurbished and transformed over a six-month period.
The property now showcases the two companies’ work and expertise in the renewables sector and boasts a wide range of green technology including a 50.4kW solar installation with 112 panels on the roof, which will produce more than 47,000 kWh each year.
The system also has an innovative battery energy storage system integrated into it, which charges during the day using solar and at night using green energy tariffs. This stored energy is then used to charge the company’s fleet of EV vans via four SolaX smart EV chargers.
It also now benefits from heat pumps, LED lighting, energy efficient windows and doors, high quality insulation and new mechanical and electrical systems throughout.
It’s estimated that all this will reduce the annual electricity bill by 75% and avoid burning more than 4,700kg of coal each year, and it can all be monitored via a state-of-the-art energy management system.
The building offers more than 5,000 sq ft of space spread over two floors. The ground floor now provides a series of sound-proof meeting rooms and booths, with high quality office space on the first floor. There are also kitchens on both floors along with WCs and shower rooms.
GW Power was established in Hull in 2014 by managing director, Daniel Haley, and provides a full range of renewable energy, mechanical and electrical solutions to public sector clients and businesses across all industries. In its last financial year, GW Power grew from ?6million to ?12million turnover and is on track to hit more than ?16million in the next 18 months.
In 2022 Daniel launched C3 Group with Ash Wray. The company provides sustainability consulting services to businesses around the UK, focussing on sustainable energy solutions, carbon reduction plans and net zero strategies.
Daniel said: “This building gives us a superb, modern working environment for approximately 30 office-based members of the team and means we have now the space to continue growing.
“There’s no doubt it’s taken a huge amount of hard work and effort to transform what was a dated steel portal framed property into a modern and highly energy efficient head office complete with all the latest green technology. However, according to The UK Green Building Council, approximately 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 are here today, so this is a superb example of what’s possible when it comes to retrofitting older properties and giving them a new and sustainable future.
“We also pride ourselves on creating and installing innovative renewable energy solutions across both public and private sector buildings, so it was important that we did it for ourselves. It demonstrates that we practice what we preach and reinforces our position at the forefront of the renewables industry.”
Finally, Daniel added: “Crucially, this building is now a key part of our ambition to make GW Power into a net-zero business in the next five years. Although lots of businesses talk about becoming net-zero, we’re making continuous progress with our plan to achieve it and we’re confident that we can do it.”
Last year GW Power also invested in a new fleet of electric vehicles, with Volkswagen ID. Buzz vans now forming a large part of GW Power’s fleet which is saving more than 4,100 litres of petrol per year. GW Power’s team is also growing, having recruited an additional six qualified and experienced engineers along with a further seven new team members in the past 12 months alone. The company now employs a 46-strong team and is currently actively recruiting electricians, plumbers, gas and heating engineers, renewables specialists and apprentices.