Reduced energy costs are a ray of sunshine for Leeds tenants » Environment » 24dash.com

Residents at a Leeds sheltered housing complex can be excused for having a sunny disposition after learning they can expect to save in excess of £2000 a year thanks to newly installed solar panels.

As part of a scheme to make Oak Tree Court in Gipton more energy efficient, ten solar panels have been installed to the south roof to help heat up to 60% of the residents’ water supplies completely free of charge.

The solar panels work by heating water stored in unvented cylinders from which it can then be directly drawn to the properties once it exceeds 60 degrees centigrade. Only if the solar power isn’t sufficient to heat the water in excess of 60 degrees centigrade will the newly installed combination boilers come into use.

By harnessing the power of the sun in this way, combined with recent cavity wall and loft insulation, new double glazing and the installation of Gas Savers onto each combination boiler, it is expected to result in thousands of pounds of savings for the 20 tenants currently residing at the complex.

The programme to make Oak Tree Court more energy efficient commenced in March 2009 when Leeds Federated Housing appointed Connaught Partnerships Ltd to remove the conventional flue boilers supplying hot water and central heating to a block of four flats, and a single boiler for the residents communal area. Connaught then replaced the six boilers, which were each in excess of 25 years old and only operating at 65% efficiency, with a combination of the solar panels and ‘A’ rated high efficiency combination boilers.

In 2007 Leeds Federated made a commitment to address fuel poverty by being one of the first organisations in Leeds to sign up to the Leeds Affordable Warmth Strategy Code of Practice, in addition to employing its first Energy Efficiency Officer. Matthew Walker, Leeds Federated Housing chief executive, said: “Fuel poverty is an increasingly important issue and Leeds Federated Housing has taken great steps in an attempt to address this for tenants.

“Through implementing technology such as the solar panels we anticipate that residents of Oak Tree Court will save over £2000 a year on their energy bills, while the costs incurred to implement these measures will be recouped through savings in just four and a half years. By using cheap, clean energy we are confident this will have a major impact on improving the quality of tenants’ lives and that is exactly what Leeds Federated Housing is all about.”

Shane Greaves, Connaught Mechanical and Electrical Services Manager, said: “With climate change, rising gas prices and the depletion of the earth’s supply of fossil fuels renewable energy sources are a genuine alternative solution as not only do they have minimal negative impact on the environment but they also offer financial benefits.

“With the completion of the works at Oak Tree Court we are confident that Leeds Federated Housing tenants will enjoy the benefits of not only a cleaner form of energy but also vastly reduced energy bills.”

Leeds Federated Housing Association and Connaught are working in partnership to deliver improvement and maintenance works to over 4000 properties.