JD Wetherspoon re-thinks eco-friendly technology

JD Wetherspoon is to rethink its use of eco-friendly technology after its first green pub, the Kettleby Cross, missed its energy saving targets by a country mile.

The pub company has said it will not be adopting all of the environmental features of its first eco-pub as many aren't "practical nor desirable".

The Kettleby Cross in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, was launched last autumn with the target of using 50% less energy than a similar-sized Wetherspoon's pub.

Energy at the pub is generated by a roof-mounted wind turbine in combination with evaporative coolers, sun pipes and solar panels, which were to create 33% of the energy required for hot water.

However, after six months Wetherspoon has seen an energy saving of 8%, significantly lower than planned.

A spokesman for Wetherspoon said: "We are a pub company not a company that is specifically committed to the environment more than anyone else.

"People should not expect us to put in every single pub the same amount of environmentally friendly features."

The spokesman added that the Kettleby Cross was a pub that was "very successful" but its some of its environmental features were more successful than others.

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By Chris Walton

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