JAM makers are going green thanks to the introduction of their new energy centre.

Bosses at Tiptree jam run by Wilkin and Sons have unveiled a new stand alone centre behind the main factory site which has state of the art facilities.

The pair of boilers, which should help cut hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions each and ever year, have been named Arthur and Charles after Arthur Charles Wilkin who founded the company more than 130 years ago.

Joint managing director Chris Newenham hailed the new equipment as the start of a new phase of business.

He said: “The construction of the new energy centre, behind the jam factory, has been designed to minimise the fuel we burn and reduce emissions while maximising the savings we can make by the introduction of solar panels, innovative LED lighting, heat recovery and ultra-efficient air compressors.

“This investment marks the start of the next exciting chapter of our business.”

Head of operations Ian Clark, who had been responsible for overseeing the energy centre project said it was impossible to say how much money the changes would save the iconic firm.

He said: “Our new Bosch boilers which are 97 per cent efficient, should see carbon dioxide emission reduce by up to 350 tonnes each year.

"Three new energy efficient air compressors will reduce the energy required for compressed air by over 20 per cent reducing our carbon dioxide emissions further by more than 30 tonnes every year.

"Heat recovery is also being evaluated to effectively utilise the heat generated from the compressed air process.

“The new energy centre is positioned to reclaim as much waste heat and steam condense as possible once the new production hall is constructed.

"It is not possible to quantify all of the potential savings at this stage.

"The solar panels on the energy centre roof will have an output of 60kW and an anticipated reduction in our carbon dioxide emissions of a further 30 tonnes every year.”