Barnsley College is currently looking for partners at the forefront of sustainable building technologies to collaborate with them on the Barnsley College 'Think Low Carbon' (TLC) project located at the Honeywell site in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. This project is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £2.75 million investment from the European Regional Development Fund through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013. The remainder of the project is being funded by the College.
Colin Booth Principal of Barnsley College said ‘The Barnsley College TLC Sustainable Centre is set to be a flagship initiative for skills development in the construction and engineering industry. Working together with existing and new partners we hope to drive down this region’s carbon footprint and increase its development and sustainability.’
The Centre will facilitate knowledge exchange, research and development for environmental technologies, enabling local businesses to exploit emerging markets in this sector, which has a current global value in excess of £3 trillion.
At an event to raise awareness of the project this week Lord Rupert Redesdale said ‘Developing environmental technology and skills are key factors for improved economic growth and improvement of the region which is currently one of the highest generators of C02 emissions in the UK. There is an increasing demand for green knowledge not just here but across the country and beyond - the Centre represents an enormous opportunity for the South Yorkshire region’
The Think Low Carbon Sustainable Centre which opens in October 2011 will consist of two open plan practical workshops and four multi-functional rooms that can be used for open days, seminars, advice and guidance or research. It will provide a demonstration area for local planners, architects and builders to explore new products, services and materials.
It will also offer workforces the opportunity to gain knowledge of fitting and maintenance to help homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy consumption.
The Centre will also include 10 demonstrator houses built to match existing housing stock in the area, including Victorian, Edwardian, 1930s, 1950, 1970s, 1990s houses and three new houses built to code 4, 5 and 6. The houses will enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs), manufacturers, developers and research institutes to test the latest developments within the industry and demonstrate how green technologies can be affordably installed.
Dr Peter Bonfield CEO of BRE who are involved with the project commented ’Barnsley and the surrounding region were historically key to the industrial revolution which brought with it huge economic growth for the UK. This new centre will make the region key to the new ‘green revolution’ as countries around the world get to grips with building in a better less harmful way’
The TLC Centre will be part of a new sustainable industrial park, which aims to stimulate new business start-ups in the region. It will promote the manufacture and product testing of green technologies, and provide technical and demonstration support to the TLC Centre and Houses.
The College would like to hear from companies who currently work in the sustainable industry to work in partnership to support the TLC Centre to become the leader and an internationally recognised centre of excellence for low carbon innovation.
For more information please telephone Dolores Kelly on 01923 664 293, email
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