Retrofitting green heating technology into housing association homes is one of the many ways in which Thermatic Homes is helping housing associations reduce their carbon footprint, as LABM finds out from Managing Director Karl Wallace.
We’ve retrofitted homes with air and ground source heat pumps. We’ve installed Solar PV and Solar Thermal, EV car charging units, CHP, battery storage and so much more. In addition to this, we’ve also been providing training for our client’s workforce and engineers in the fitting and use of green technologies.
Our retrofitting services don’t end there. For housing associations across the UK, we are providing an array of electrical, mechanical and building services, including: full rewires, upgrades to electrical and heating installations, smart controls, EICR compliance testing, kitchen and bathroom replacements, smoke and heat detection upgrades, reactive and first response, property insulation and full property refurbishment.
The MSV Way
Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group own and manage almost 9,000 homes across the North West. They pride themselves on being a housing group that has retained its caring values and continues to deliver a range of housing solutions to those in society who most need them.
Their corporate strategy ‘The MSV Way’ commits to investing in People, Planet and Place with capacity for over 1,000 new sustainable homes over the next few years to be built that people can afford, a sustainability strategy to reduce the impact of climate change and investing in communities and neighbourhoods.
MSV had been searching for a Mechanical and Electrical contractor in Manchester to install 12 air source heat pumps, replacing old storage heaters in customers’ homes that were costly and inefficient to run. Having carried out due diligence to find the right contractor to take on the work, MSV discovered that there were few contractors that had the experience, manpower or knowledge of installing air source heat pumps needed for a project of this scale.
After speaking to Martin Lee at Thermatic Homes, Pat McKendry, the Sustainability Manager at MSV said: “After working with Thermatic Homes for the past three years MSV has formed a good working relationship. Thermatic Homes are very experienced within the renewable fields sector, highly professional in their approach and customer focused.
“Not only does Thermatic Homes have the experience of installing air source heat pumps, but those specialist skills are backed up by a breadth of industry knowledge — they really know their stuff! We are confident that the air source heat pumps will lead to a reduction in carbon remissions and help our customers save money on energy bills.”
Project requirements
As part of MSV’s ongoing net zero carbon roadmap, engineers at Thermatic Homes installed 12 Mitsubishi Ecodan air source heat pumps across two developments as a pilot scheme. This demonstrated our capabilities as a contractor but also gave us the opportunity to showcase the pilot to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
During the process our team at Thermatic Homes assisted with system selection, design, and delivery. Both developments had previously been heated using electric storage heaters, which were costly to run for the residents and required regular maintenance due to their age and performance. They also offered residents very little means of controlling the temperature of their homes.
The new air source heat pump systems have been designed to give residents full control of their heating whilst reducing energy costs and carbon output. Due to local planning restrictions, we installed some of the units in a purpose-built noise reducing housing.
Resident Mr Moran had an air source heat pump fitted two years ago and said: “I only pay about £10 a week in summer and £12 a week in winter on my prepayment meter. It’s a great system, really easy to use and the house is nice and warm after previously having storage and
downflow heaters.”
Residents Mr and Mrs Knight added: “This system is a far better system than what we had in previously (storage heaters and downflow heaters) and we are really happy with it.”
The results
Following the successful delivery of the pilot scheme, Thermatic Homes were appointed to carry out various additional installations of air source heat pumps, solar panels (photovoltaic and solar thermal) within MSV’s housing stock. As part of our ongoing partnership, engineers and staff at MSV have the opportunity to gain knowledge on the equipment installed through the Thermatic Academy.
We are delighted to continue working with MSV to create more sustainable homes, which will have a positive impact on both the environment and MSV’s customers.
Thermatic Homes is a national M&E contractor based in Greater Manchester that provides a onestop solution for housing associations, from mechanical and electrical services, to renewable energy installations and training. Email information@thermatichomes.com for more details or visit https://thermatichomes.com/
