Solar panels installed on 10 Manchester tower blocks » Environment » 24dash.com

Northwards Housing is going green with the introduction of solar panels to 10 multi-storey blocks in north Manchester, saving over 42 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

This groundbreaking project is one of the biggest of its kind in Britain.

Northwards has been working with Manchester City Council's Green City Team to look at ways of reducing the amount of Carbon Dioxide released into the atmosphere, these solar panels are just the start of more innovative energy saving initiatives.

Robin Lawler, Chief Executive, said: “This is a great step forward for Northwards Housing, we are committed to the council’s objective of becoming Britain’s greenest city and this scheme gives us an excellent head start.”

Fifty per cent of the £500,000 scheme, was paid for under Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. Northwards Housing match funded an additional £250,000 of savings made through the capital programme.

Electricity generated by the panels will provide energy for the communal areas and any extra electricity will be sold back to the National Grid.

The savings and any cash made will fund more energy saving and community projects within these and other properties managed by Northwards.