How Edinburgh Castle is Saving Energy

How modern upgrades have helped reduce its consumption and carbon emissions

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Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the UK and the most popular ticketed attraction outside of London. It gets approximately two million visitors per year.  

Statue overlooking Edinburgh Castle (2019-04) by CyArkCyArk

It has 27 individual buildings spread over 7 acres, including an active military base.

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle (2019-04) by CyArkCyArk

Its size and large number of visitors makes the castle the largest consumer of energy managed by Historic Environment Scotland, the public body tasked with investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment.

The Historic Edinburgh Castle (2019-04) by CyArkCyArk

Despite the increasing numbers of tourists, it has been able to reduce energy consumption by 29% and carbon emissions by 31% since 2008. 

Edinburgh pointcloudCyArk

This remarkable decrease has been achieved by using more energy efficient lighting, adding insulation and replacing gas boilers, controls and pumps, among other improvements. 

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