West Cumbrian company Chimney Sheep has picked up a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation for its energy-saving innovation of the same name.
What is a Chimney Sheep? “It’s a chimney blocker made of felted sheep wool,” explains a statement from the firm. “It lodges in the throat of the chimney when the fire isn’t lit and prevents warm air from the home from being drawn up the chimney. It saves 5% off household heating bills – that’s a whopping £95 at today’s utility prices.”
Business owner Sally Phillips invented the product 10 years ago. In the UK alone there are over 11 million homes built with open chimneys. She says, “having an open chimney is a terrible waste of energy. It’s like leaving a window wide open all the time. It seemed a no-brainer to develop a chimney blocker made of sheep wool. Wool is a natural insulator, but also breathable, which is important for chimneys in older properties.”
After developing and patenting the Chimney Sheep, Phillips took the product to market in 2012 not knowing what demand would be like for her innovation. Sales have grown year on year. In 2012, 1700 were sold. In 2021, 35,000 were sold. The cumulative total is now 150,000.
The product was tested by Liverpool University, who found that it saved an average of 5% off heating bills. It’s been tested by BSRIA who calculated that it saves 250kg CO₂ per year. If all 11 million homes in the UK with an open chimney fitted a Chimney Sheep, we would save 2,750,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The Energy Savings Trust calculated that draught-proofing the chimney will save £65 off an average annual heating bill. That’s £71,500,000 worth of potential UK savings annually.
The business has grown over the years and now employs 11 people. It sells an increasing range of environmentally friendly products. Phillips has set up a Community Interest Company called Buy Land Plant Trees. 20% of the profit from Chimney Sheep goes to the CIC. To date they have acquired 180 acres of land and planted 65,000 trees with ambitious plans to increase this year on year. “I want our customers to feel that not only are they buying products that are beneficial to their home or garden, but also beneficial to the wider environment.”
Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise include four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. 226 organisations received the award in 2022.
