Russell Dean, Head of Residential and Domestic Heating at Mitsubishi Electric, discusses how heat pump technology can boost domestic energy efficiency and help reduce heating bills, highlighting a recent project with Clydesdale Housing Association.
With climate change and renewable energy firmly on the agenda, many housing associations are now looking to upgrade their heating solutions to be more environmentally friendly, reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. At the same time, ensuring tenants are comfortable and warm is a key priority — as well as keeping energy costs low.
To address all of these areas at once may seem like a challenge — but due to their efficiency, heat pump technology can reduce a housing association’s carbon impact, and reduce costs for tenants compared to gas or oil heating.
Clydesdale Housing Association was set up in 1987 by a voluntary committee, with a mission to combat the poor condition of houses in Clydesdale, and the shortage of rented housing. It now manages over 740 properties. Recently, the HA was looking to replace old inefficient electric storage heating to reduce fuel costs for tenants and help lift them out of fuel poverty, while also assisting the housing provider in meeting the Social Housing Energy Efficiency Standard2 (EESSH2) targets.
Ecodan air source heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric will be installed into 120 of the housing association’s properties to provide renewable energy and year-round comfort, and tenants are expected to benefit from average cost savings of £852 per year.
Meeting legislation
The Scottish Government created EESSH to remove poor energy efficiency and help combat fuel poverty whilst also contributing to the overall climate change emissions reduction targets. EESSH2 requires all social housing to meet EPC band B — or be as energy-efficient as practically possible, within the limits of cost, technology and necessary consent — by the end of December 2032. With this in mind, BRB Electrical was appointed to carry out heating replacement works for Clydesdale and worked closely with the housing association to ensure tenants secured optimum benefit from the project.
Choosing the right solution
During the survey process, it became obvious that the type of properties being targeted were better suited to the installation of air source heat pumps rather than storage heaters as initially intended. UltraQuiet Ecodan heat pumps from Mitsubishi Electric were chosen as an appropriate solution, as they are low maintenance and able to produce an average of three kilowatts of heating for every kilowatt of electricity consumed.
Ecodan units sit outside the home and extract warmth from the outdoor air. They upgrade this renewable heat energy and transfer it inside the home to provide hot water and heating for radiators and/or underfloor heating. They will do this quietly and reliably, all year round, even in sub-zero temperatures down to -25˚C. The heat pumps, which have been installed in 33 properties to date, are working in a variety of apartments, detached, semi-detached and terraced houses across the HA’s stock.
Advice for residents
BRB Electrical also partnered with the Wise Group to provide tenants with information about tariff switching and held intensive consultations on how tenants can save money and improve comfort levels in their home. To date, approval rating for the systems is very high with 98% of respondents providing positive feedback.
Russell Dean, Head of Residential and Domestic Heating Mitsubishi Electric says: “We’re delighted the Clydesdale Housing Association has chosen to install our innovative Ecodan air source heat pump systems.
“Tenants are already feeling the benefits — both in their homes and in their pockets — and the Housing Association is meeting its priorities of supporting its tenants as well as contributing to meeting environmental targets.”
