Ninety-two Cumbrian businesses have received a total of £1.25 million to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Low Carbon Lake District Fund, administered by The Lake District Foundation, has supported SMEs in the Lake District including village shops, hotels, community-owned pubs, cinemas, breweries and arts venues.
They have received funding for everything from electric vehicle charging points, LED lighting, air source heat pumps, solar panels, and more environmentally friendly appliances.
It is estimated that resulting carbon savings of all these projects amounts to more than 400 metric tons.
One of the successful applicants was Rebel Gelato – a plant-based ice cream company set up last year in Kendal.
Fiona Quinn, of the company, said: “The grant has been invaluable in enabling us to buy energy efficient equipment from day one. We started our plant-based gelato business in June 2022 and were able to utilise highly energy efficient freezers – a core aspect of the business.
“We were keen to be as sustainable as possible and we wouldn’t have been able to make this kind of investment in energy efficient equipment without the grant.”
The 108-year-old Alhambra Cinema in Keswick was given funding for 30 solar panels. The £14,000 award from the fund covered around 40 per cent of the installation cost.
Carol Rennie, co-owner of the cinema, said: “We’re so grateful for the fund. The solar panels will generate around a third of the cinema’s electricity needs and reduce our CO2 input considerably.”
The Victorian House Hotel in Grasmere also benefited from solar panels.
Serena von der Heyde, Victorian House owner, said: “A huge part of our carbon footprint is the energy we consume. Our new solar panels are up and running and contributing renewable energy to the electricity that we use.
“This is a massive step forward for us and we could never have afforded the initial investment without the grant support from the Lake District Foundation.
“It has been a game changer – accelerating our progress towards becoming a carbon neutral business.”
Qualifying groups and businesses were awarded up to 60 per cent of project costs, with all projects completed by spring 2023.
Sarah Swindley, chief executive Lake District Foundation, said: “We are delighted to support more than 90 businesses across the Lake District with their fantastic projects that all designed to reduce carbon emissions.
“This comprehensive programme to help tackle climate change in the national park has been a big success. It has been great to see local businesses and communities working to reduce greenhouse gases and prepare for the impacts of climate change”.
Delivered by The Lake District Foundation, the Low Carbon Lake District Fund is led by the Lake District National Park Authority, other key partners include the National Trust, South Lakeland District Council – now Westmorland and Furness Council – and Cumbria Tourism.
The fund is supported by the European Structural Investment Fund.
