ICP Networks hailed FiT by E.On

ICP Networks are being hailed as a shining example of how to help protect the environment – and generate profits in the process.

Forget the saying ‘make hay while the sun shines’ the Cheshire based IT and Networking specialists are making serious cash thanks to their stunning green eco HQ.

They receive regular payments from energy giants E.ON for electricity generated via their huge 50KW solar panel installation at Lexicon House via the Feed In Tariff scheme.

FiT was introduced by the Government in April 2010 to encourage businesses and home owners to install low-carbon energy devices such as wind turbines and solar panels.

They believe the FiT scheme will help the UK meet its target of making 15% of all energy renewable by 2020.

Energy giants E.ON are a FiT supplier and they want to encourage more businesses to join the eco drive and are using ICP Networks as an example to other businesses as to the benefits.

ICP Networks MD Matt Archer, said: “Our whole business model at ICP Networks is based around supporting the Circular Economy, raising revenue through thoughtful reuse and redeployment of IT assets.

“Historically many businesses have followed a linear economy in that we have made products, used them and then disposed of them before making a replacement and starting the process again. Which to our way to thinking is counter intuitive, and not the way people look after their personal assets, and why would a business be any different.

“The Circular Economy challenges traditional and teaches us to keep resources for as long as possible, refurbishing and recycling wherever possible whether that means individual parts of whole IT infrastructures.

“This presents benefits for their environment as it reduces the manufacturing process of new IT equipment and ensures that businesses make compelling savings on installing IT Networks infrastructure.

“It makes absolutely sense then that if our business model is established around recycling equipment we should also examine how we can reduce our imprint on the environment and seek to reduce our own carbon footprint.

“The FiT program is a fantastic example of how business can make a real impact and yet also become far more profitable, and live the key principles of their business.

“Our solar panel installation and other features of our eco-build at ICP Networks generate around three times the energy we actually need and that means we sell the surplus back to E.ON.”

ICP Networks moved into their new 16,500 sq. foot headquarters in Poynton, South Manchester, in 2012 having created a bespoke building from the ground up.

As well as the 200 solar panels, the largest installation in the North West, ICP Networks installed energy-efficient lights, heaters with motion sensors, minimum 100mm Kingspan insulation, a heat recovery systems, Planitherm Argon Super Thermal glass and ceiling tiles made of bio-soluble mineral wool, prelates and clay.

The result is an award-winning building called Lexicon House and the title ‘Greenest IT HQ in Britain’ which was featured in The Guardian.

Now E.ON is featuring ICP Networks as part of a national campaign to show other businesses the benefits of the FiT scheme.

E.ON are one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies and one if the world’s largest investor owned power and gas companies with assets of more than 125 billion Euros.

They employ more than 12,000 people in the UK and more than 79,000 worldwide and supply more than five million homes people with electricity and / or gas.

How You Can Join the FiT

To join the FiT Scheme you must have one of the following:

Solar PV panels
Wind Turbines
Anaerobic digestion
Hydro-electric
Small-scale micro Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units (up to 2kW only)

You must also:

Generate 5MW or less
Have had your equipment installed on or after 1 April 2010
Have your installation accredited by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or a Renewables Obligation Order (ROO FiT).