Chevin awarded cash for renewable heat

Published by Paula Littleboy for Together Housing Group in Housing and also in Communities

Chevin Housing Association Ltd (a member of the Together Housing Group) has been awarded up to £175,000 under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme towards installing air source heat pumps in 30 of their homes.   The Department of Energy and Climate Change received over 125 bids with Chevin being one of the successful 24.

Each of the homes that have been chosen to receive the pumps currently have electric storage heaters which most tenants find expensive to run and inconvenient to use.  The new air source heat systems extract energy from the air and convert it into heat, meaning they are more economical to run yet deliver a better quality of heat. 

Each of the units has an intelligent operating system with a series of sensors inside and outside the home.  The sensors constantly talk to each other and adjust the output from the pump, maintaining a level temperature inside the home at all times. 

Gone are the days of coming in to a cold home and starting the heating up, the temperature is kept at a level at all times with the tenant having control through a thermostat setting.

The installation of the pumps is taking place now across various locations with 3 trial pumps already fitted. 

Lyndsay Rothery from Pontefract who has been trialling one of the pumps had this to say “What a fantastic new heating system.  I used to go to bed around 6pm in an evening when the weather turned cold as this was the only way I could keep warm because the electric storage heaters were so inefficient - but not any longer!! With the new system, it’s great to be able to go from one room to another and everywhere be at a constant temperature with the added benefit of knowing I am in complete control being able to turn the heating up and down as I like. I have a few health issues and the new system has helped me with some of my symptoms, being able to keep warm all of the time is wonderful.  I am so happy that I don’t have to worry about the bills anymore as the system is far more economical I truly feel more comfortable and happy in my home”.

Sam Sykes, Head of Asset Strategy said “We think Lyndsay’s experience really justifies our decision to trial this form of heating and we are really pleased to be extending the trial so that even more tenants will benefit from warmer homes this winter. We believe that air source heat pumps could be a true alternative to electric storage heaters and we hope our work will be followed up by other Housing Associations.”

Photographed: Lyndsay in her home.