93-year-old embraces alternative energy

After 53 years feeding her coal fire a Rookhope woman has switched to clean, green energy.
Nellie Adamson, 93, was surprised by her daughter, Sue Mercer, who had arranged to move to a newly refurbished flat complete with a state-of the art heating system.
Mrs Adamson had lived in her upstairs council flat in Rookhope for 53 years but beginning to struggle with the stairs and fetching coal, which also spread dirt.
When Dale & Valley Homes moved into the vacant downstairs flat to upgrade it under the Decent Homes scheme the coal fire there was replaced with an air-source heating system, which works like a fridge in reverse, drawing heat into the flat from the air outside.
The system is very efficient, producing the equivalent of three or four units of heat for every unit of electricity used to run the pump. Such systems can even produce heat when the temperature outside is as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius.
Mrs Mercer saw the refurbished flat, which also had a new kitchen and bathroom, during an open day and asked if her mother could move into it.
Mark Percival, from Dale & Valley Homes, arranged for the move and Mrs Mercer spent three weeks decorating the new flat, without her mother knowing a thing.
She said: “I knew if I told my Mam there was absolutely no way she would have agreed. I got the keys and in three weeks got everything done for her. I was travelling from Harrogate every few days and she didn’t understand why I was coming so often.”
On moving day Mrs Adamson went off to her usual club while an army of helpers were waiting to move her furniture and possessions into the new flat.
By the time she returned home all was ready for her to move straight in.
Mrs Adamson said: “I liked it straight away. It is a big difference to the one upstairs. The stairs were getting too much for me and it is much easier living down here. It doesn’t get dirty, the cleaner comes on a Friday and says there is nothing for her to do.”
Mark said: “We were pleased to help Mrs Adamson move into a flat which suited her needs much better.
“The new heating system is quite rare in this country but we are working with Eaga Renewables and Danfoss controls to use such systems in areas with no mains gas supply. They have many advantages over more traditional alternatives.”