The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has partnered with Ecovision as part of its Cost Reduction Programme to help member's cut their energy bills.
The aim of the partnership is to raise awareness of how renewable energy can cut costs, at the same time as increasing competitiveness and profitability across the nursery and garden centres industry.

HTA's commercial manager, Tim Bell, said: "Ever increasing energy costs has meant that over the last two years the cost of heating nurseries and garden centres has risen significantly.

"Installing renewable energy solutions can play a key role in enabling our members to become independent of the big six energy companies and their volatile energy prices, allowing them to take control of and reduce their energy costs."

The HTA represents 95% of the UK garden centre industry, with over 1,100 members with 2,500 garden outlets. It is estimated that if 30% of members adopted renewable heating technology it could be worth over £10m per annum to garden centre owners and growers in the form of government income and reduced heating costs.

Ecovision's managing director, Chris Adcock, explained: "Using a traditional oil fired boiler to heat and provide hot water to a garden centre of 2,000sq m, costs in the region of £20,000 a year in oil.

"With an investment of around £80,000 it is possible to switch from an oil fired boiler to a renewable energy 125kW biomass boiler system and make a combined saving against previous oil costs.

"Based on returns often in excess of 20% per annum, payback is typically achieved in five years or less."

Mr Bell added: "The horticultural industry prides itself on its green credentials and the use of renewable energy will not only help our members to reduce their energy bills, it will also help them to reduce their carbon emissions."