Since BHESCo’s first share offer in summer 2015 we have now completed 59 community-owned clean energy projects with the support of our members.
Added together, we expect these projects to reduce carbon emissions by 7,083 tonnes over their project lifetime, which is the equivalent carbon emissions of:
- 10,057 flights from London to New York
In addition to the huge reduction in planet warming carbon emissions, these projects will deliver combined savings for our customers of over £2 million.
This is especially important considering that the majority of our project customers are community buildings like schools and village halls who have been facing tremendous financial strain in recent years.
BHESCo's latest Bond Offer - raising funds to put solar panels on schools in Brighton & Hove
BHESCo are raising funds to develop an exciting collection of clean energy projects that will drive down energy costs and carbon emissions in our community.
As part of BHESCo’s innovative business model, we raise money from social impact investors and use this to fund the installation of energy saving/ energy generating technologies on behalf of our customers.
By providing the capital cost to install solar panels on local schools our investors will be helping both the schools and the city of Brighton and Hove to meet their net zero carbon emissions targets.
By meeting project costs in this way, our investors remove the burdensome upfront expense that can prevent property owners and facility managers from taking vital action on the climate crisis.
Additional community benefits - inspiring young people and supporting small business
As well as making a significant contribution towards the UK’s net zero climate targets, our clean energy projects deliver a wide range of additional benefits to the community.
For example, by installing solar panels on local schools, we are demonstrating to younger generations that it is completely achievable to power our lives with 100% clean, affordable, renewable energy sources.
Here is what the Headteacher of Patcham Junior School had to say about the solar panels that BHESCo installed at their site.
“For us as a school, apart from the financial benefits of lower cost energy, we will be able to share the project details with our pupils and ensure that they remain enthused about reducing our negative impacts on the planet”
Alistair Sutherland, Headteacher, Patcham Junior School
In addition to the fantastic educational advantages of our low carbon energy projects, we are also providing much needed business to local installers.
As a result of projects delivered through our current Bond Offer, we have engaged the services of solar installers, scaffolders, surveyors, etc, which helps to strengthen supply chains and create a thriving local economy.
Repaying interest to investors
Since our first share offer back in June 2015, BHESCo has now attracted 409 investors, who have collectively channelled investments worth £1.4million towards community owned energy projects in Sussex.
True to our word, we have paid the target interest amount to our investors every year. Since our first interest payment in 2016, we have now paid out £277,177 interest to our shareholders.
Our interest allocation is built in to the financial model of each of our community energy projects, meaning we have every confidence in our ability to pay our target interest rate to our members each year.
Have you considered becoming an ethical investor?
With the UK’s low carbon sector expected to grow four times faster than the rest of the economy, there has never been a better time to start investing in sustainable ventures like BHESCo.
It is easy to begin investing online with our straight-forward application form.
Your investment will help fund the completion of two new large-scale low-carbon energy projects at a school and a higher education facility, helping to drive down bills and power forward the transition to locally owned clean energy systems for Sussex.
If you are new to investing in the community energy sector then please have a read through our Beginner’s Guide To Investing in Community Energy.
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