Open Air Business August/September 2018

GLAMPSITES
The West Field Glamping Site
Description: A glampsite looking to
create a sustainable off-grid system for a
yurt, with the idea to expand the site as
the business grows
Product: We helped work out the
daily energy use of this glampsite and
provided options for systems that
would power appliances with solar for
sustainable recharge
Company: Portable Power Technology
Telephone: 01474 761051
Website: www.portablepowertech.com
Details: Our customer wanted to run
a fridge/freezer, lighting and a USB
charging point via an inverter, battery
and solar system.
One of the main issues was that the
site was north facing and would not
attract much light during the winter
months therefore reducing the capability
of a solar array substantially. We
spoke at length with the customer and
discussed the various plans of action to
keep her glamping site running yearround.
The options included having a larger
than necessary battery bank for the
summer to recharge and store the energy
to be readily available throughout the
winter, finding a feasible way to remove
the batteries off the site once they were
low and recharging via mains power, or
having a back up generator on site to
recharge the batteries as needed.
We pointed our customer in the
direction of low wattage appliances and
lighting solutions in order to get the
best possible usage out of the provided
system. Once she had decided on her
appliances and back up charging options
we provided a quote for a complete, yearround
system.
Our systems are always expandable
and we are at the end of
the phone to help you get
the best out of your offgrid
application.
Feedback: “I approached PPT for
power for my off-grid glamping site. The
support, options, information and advice
I received was exceptional. I will use them
when I expand my site next season and
recommend them to anyone!”
Cawkeld Farm
Description: Family run
working farm, located near
Driffield, East Yorkshire.
Currently looking into
diversification, with a view
to adding two glamping
lodges just off the Minster
Way footpath route
Units: Family Wheat Lodge
and Couples Oat Lodge
Company: Sam Atkinson
Telephone: 07872 012 901
Website:
www.sacarpentry.co.uk
Details: We worked with
the family at Cawkeld
Farm to create two unique
straw bale lodges that
would be energy efficient
and blend in with their
environment. The owners
were really keen to offer
a bespoke look and a high
finish throughout, to appeal to
those holidaymakers who wanted
luxury accommodation.
The pods are insulated with straw
bales, so require very little heating
ensuring they are usable all year
round, and are extremely cost
efficient. Inside, the lodges provide
spacious accommodation, which
includes a double bed, table, and
large kitchen area. The en-suite
facilities include a shower, toilet and
basin.
Feedback: “Sam and his team have
been really helpful throughout
the design and planning stages,
providing everything we needed for
our new glamping lodges. We will
get the finished lodges delivered to
our site, which will give us a faster
installation time so we can take
bookings quicker, with minimal
disruption beforehand.
“Our lodges are to be sited
in an area of woodland so we
wanted something that would fit
with the surroundings. The lodges
will be clad in Douglas fir timber
so will straight away blend into the
surroundings, making them a natural
addition to the site. From visiting other
straw bale buildings Sam has built in the
area and viewing the high standard of finish
and attention to detail we had no doubt in
ordering from him."
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