One of the Dordogne region’s largest banks is pioneering eco-friendly technology by replacing its traditional heating system with a self-powered wood-burner.

The headquarters of Credit Agricole in Bergerac, one of the largest banks in the Dordogne, is breaking new ground as the first major contract for the technology. Amazingly, the new system’s boiler is powered by nothing more than wood pellets – and can heat 7000m2 of office space.

The bank seeks to reduce its carbon footprint for both its sites in Bergerac and Charente-Perigord. It is predicted that the new heating system will lower the 9000 tonnes of CO2 produced by the insitutions by at least 2000 tonnes each. To make a saving on its annual heating budging of 260,000 euros in advance of predicted carbon-taxes by the French Government, Credit Agricole turned to pioneering green technology firm Grasasa.

Gregory Grange, executive of Grasasa’s domestic operations, explained the benefits of the system to Sudouest.com. “It’ll make better and better use of the wood over time”, resulting in lower fuel costs, lower maintenance costs and unlike other standalone heating systems, will have an entirely safe form of fuel storage.

Grasasa’s methods of producing energy dense wood pellets have been in use across the Dordogne for many years, though this is the largest single installation. Since 2005 sales of pellets have increased from 50 to 5000 tonnes, simply to individuals and greenhouses across the Dordogne and nearby departments of Lot-Et-Garonne and Gironde. Gregory Grange says that Grasasa is now “convincing elected officials to consider a territorial development of wood heating”.

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