The project means that a tree is planted for every solar panel that is installed on each new home at Calderwood in East Calder.

All homes within previous phases, as well as the next phase of Calderwood have PV solar panels installed. With an average of five panels per typical four- bedroom detached family home, the development will contribute to the planting of hundreds of trees both home and abroad through Fusion Forest’s charity partnerships with Eden Reforestation Projects and Trees for Life.

Plus, a typical five panel solar installation generates enough electricity each to heat the water to make 36,000 mugs of tea.

Kirsty McGill, sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said: “We are really proud of the contribution and legacy that our Calderwood development in East Calder is making to Viridian Solar’s Fusion Forest project. Installation of PV solar panels allows our customers to generate some of their own electricity from the sun’s energy for use in their own home and contributes to the energy-efficiencies that our homes offer. To further offset our carbon footprint with planting of trees both here in Scotland and overseas is just simply the right thing to do.”

Stuart Elmes, CEO at Viridian Solar, added: “It’s great to see forward-thinking housebuilders like Taylor Wimpey getting on board with this reforestation initiative. We hope that the future residents at Calderwood are pleased that as well as being extremely energy efficient, their homes have contributed to the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and the regeneration of forest habitats for wildlife.”