Upgrades cut costs and emissions at community village hall

24 Jun 2026

A village hall has reduced its environmental impact after securing funding to improve its energy efficiency and sustainability.

Honington and Sapiston Village Hall was among 29 organisations to apply for support through the Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund (DIF), designed to help community buildings cut carbon emissions and respond to climate challenges.

The proposal included the installation of 24 kWp (Killowatt-Peak) roof mounted solar panels projected to generate around 22,000 kWh of renewable energy annually and a 11kWh battery energy storage system, cutting down an estimated 4 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Lower energy consumption is also set to ease financial pressures, helping the venue remain affordable for local groups and regular users.

The DIF programme, which allocated more than £200,000 in total, provided partial funding to selected projects, with community organisations contributing towards their own upgrade costs.

Len Newman, Chairman of the Trustees of Honington and Sapiston Village Hall, said: “We were excited to apply for the scheme as we felt it would be greatly beneficial to our village hall and the local community. The actual installation of the 52 panels and the battery was carried out at the beginning of March this year and it has provided us with plenty of electricity. The installation has helped us further support the wide range of activities offered at the hall, as well as saving money on energy bills and reducing our carbon footprint.”

Councillor Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory at West Suffolk Council, said: “Through the Decarbonisation Initiatives Fund, we are supporting local organisations to take practical steps towards reducing their environmental impact. Projects like this demonstrate how community spaces can benefit financially from lower energy costs, while at the same time improving environmental resilience.”

Councillor Andrew Smith, Ward Member for the area, added: “With the solar panels and battery now installed, it will make a real difference to those who use the hall. It is great to know the building is being run in a more environmentally responsible way. Investments like this help ensure the village hall remains a valuable space for the local community for years to come.”

Other initiatives supported by the fund include upgrading sports pitch floodlights to energy-efficient LED systems and introducing more sustainable transport options to cut down on unnecessary car use.

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