Self-sufficiency

Dixter has a long association with self sufficiency and low impact technology. In keeping with this, a biomass boiler, ground source heating pipes and discreetly hidden solar panels will be installed to serve the converted farm buildings and feed into an overhaul of the antiquated heating system in the house, The boiler will be fuelled by wood chip from local forestry.

Work on providing sustainable energy for the farm buildings using heat from the ground took place over the autumn of 2010. The biomass boiler will be installed in a building next to the Great Barn over the winter of 2011/12.

The cost of the biomass boiler has been estimated at £353,000 and £50,000 is still needed.