The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society has taken home the Green Award at the Toast of Surrey Business Awards following efforts to cut its carbon footprint and operate in a more environmentally friendly way.  

The Awards, run by the Surrey Advertiser and first held in 2009, bring together business leaders from across the county. In a highly competitive and new category for this year, Royal Alfred was successful in picking up the Green Award, which was sponsored by the WWF-UK. In judging this award, the main criteria included seeking out businesses that have really challenged themselves to operate more sustainably and manage their environmental impact.

The home’s campaign to work in a greener way included the installation of a pellet-fired biomass boiler which has resulted in the home being less reliant on gas, reducing usage to less than 20% of previous levels. Solar panels installed in 2012 have saved the home 15% on electricity bills to date.

A new 135 metre borehole provides the home’s water supply with estimated savings of up to £8,000 a year. The money saved from these initiatives will go back into the home, funding further projects, refurbishments and extensions for the residents to enjoy. Small changes can also go a long way; the home now has a compost bin on site, installed during a recent garden revamp by local volunteers.

Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society Chief Executive, Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt, said: “We are well on our way to becoming a self-sufficient home. Not only are we providing energy to the home, powered on site, we’re also doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint. There is so much we can do with the money we’re saving, meaning we can continue to provide the best care possible for our residents.”

www.royalalfredseafarers.co.uk