WHAT GOES ON TOUR…

Editor site visits are a really important part of any PR campaign. They not only mean we can build relationships between editors and our clients; they also result in valuable coverage that is written from the editor’s point of view. This is why are always asking our clients about projects where we can demonstrate a product or service ‘in action’.

This was the case with Dalkia, our energy and utilities management client. Social housing is a key target for Dalkia’s Combined Heat and Power, district heating and bio energy capability this year, so when the opportunity arose to take HA magazine to see a district heating energy plant in operation, the team jumped at it.

The Barkantine District Heating scheme provides heat and power for over 1,000 households, as well as cutting carbon emissions for a range of local facilities such as community buildings and schools. It is housed in an old Victorian utility building in Tower Hamlets where Dalkia covers the operation and maintenance of the plant.

PPE in place, we toured the heart of the very noisy and rather hot plant room. This contains a 16 cylinder engine that not only pumps out 1.4 MWe of electricity to the Grid, but enough waste heat to keep local residents supplied with heating and hot water, at a far lower cost than could be offered through individual appliances.

The result was a full page of press coverage emphasising the potential for CHP and bio energy in the UK’s climate change agenda, in a core publication for Dalkia’s target social housing audience.