Lambeth Elfrida Rathbone Society
Key facts on Rathbone
| Building type | Listed, historic |
| Built | 1887 |
| Size | 695 sqm |
| occupancy | 25 employees |
| Tenure | Leasehold |
| Sector | Health and social care |
| Use | Mixed, including commercial |
Based out of the historic Old Library in West Norwood, Rathbone supports adults with learning disabilities and young people.
At the recommendation of the Station to Station Business Improvement District (BID), Rathbone signed on to the Mayor’s Business Climate Challenge (BCC) with the key goals of saving on energy costs and working toward its environmental ambitions.
The programme offered the opportunity to identify priority energy-savings actions, and to help inform and encourage behaviour change by Rathbone team members.
Energy and building improvements
Rathbone is not only acting on key recommendations, but going beyond them to further reduce their energy use and costs.
When you have lots of firefighting day-to-day, it’s very hard to carve out the time for research and climate planning. The Business Climate Challenge allowed us to do that.
Rathbone has kicked off a series of staff trainings to shift the organisation’s culture around energy saving.
The charity is changing the timers in its heating system and working to better insulate windows ahead of the autumn and winter seasons. Finally, Rathbone is reviewing its gas and electricity contract and considering changing suppliers to better promote energy efficiency.
Business Climate Challenge priority recommendations
- Upgrade to smart meters.
- Enhance space heating controls.
- Insulate roof.
- Install LED lights with intelligent controls.
- Refurbish ground floor air handling unit.
Total potential energy savings: 46 per cent.
Next steps
Using the BCC energy audit report to secure assistance from their landlord, Lambeth Council, to undertake the recommended measures.
Leveraging the BCC energy audit and network to join other local projects and/or apply for additional grant funding to undertake larger-scale recommendations such as building insulation and boiler system upgrades.
Planning an internal conference to inform staff around new business initiatives and educate them on specific energy topics.
We have a lot of limitations given the nature of our business and our building, but it’s still been such a positive experience. What [the BCC] asked of us was more than reasonable considering what we received in return – both valuable knowledge and support.