Gas Network Extensions: Warm Zone, BGC, Baxi Group and Veolia join forces to deliver affordable warmth » Communities » 24dash.com

Warm Zone, BGC, Baxi Group and Veolia Water Outsourcing have collaborated to help local authorities and registered social landlords (RSLs) to address the issues of fuel poverty in off-mains gas areas.

Each organisation is a specialist in its field. Together they can deliver utility networks and energy solutions that will enable home energy conservation targets to be met, carbon emissions to be significantly reduced and affordable warmth to be provided for vulnerable and low income households.

In particular, they install major gas network extensions into off-mains gas areas throughout the UK where grants are available to finance projects for households experiencing fuel poverty and hardship.

Between them the four organisations can develop proposals for the design, installation, ownership, maintenance and operation of the gas network extension project. And they can suggest the most appropriate home heating product for each dwelling.

William Gillis, Managing Director, Warm Zone, explains: “We aim to identify homes in the most deprived areas and enable them to benefit financially from reduced fuel bills. And we can reduce the carbon footprint of the least efficient homes in line with local authority and Government targets.”

Paul Reynolds, General Manager for Multi-utility services at Veolia Water Outsourcing said: “I’m delighted that our companies are combining expertise and working together to providing gas extension projects for areas of hardship. Veolia Water Outsourcing has the vital experience and knowledge of providing multi-utility infrastructure to large scale housing development projects. With the other members in this consortia, we can offer a complete, trusted solution for local authorities and social landlords.”

Case study: Seven Sisters and Wrexham
The objective of the community scheme was to provide an alternative, lower cost fuel supply to properties heated by high cost fuels such as coal, oil and bottled gas for priority customers, on behalf of the gas network owners and funding agencies.

A highly skilled workforce installed gas network extensions to over 400 homes. The planning process ensured that inconvenience to local residents was kept to a minimum.

As a direct result of replacing the high cost heating with high efficiency gas boilers, the end users’ fuel bills were substantially lower and carbon emissions significantly reduced.

Warm Zone is a Community Interest Company whose task is to provide integrated packages of energy efficiency measures and related services to all households, in particular to those facing fuel poverty.

Veolia Water Outsourcing is fully accredited with Lloyds as a Multi Utility Registered Scheme (MURS) service provider. Delivering multi utilities including all works associated with gas network extensions and energy solutions, its customers are asset owners, building developers and construction companies responsible for large scale utility installation projects.

Baxi Group is one of Europe’s biggest manufacturers and suppliers of domestic and commercial heating and hot water system solutions.

BGC provides property maintenance services throughout the UK. It supplies and installs central heating systems and all aspects of plumbing, and carries out service, maintenance and repairs.