A renewable heating system installation, piloted by social housing provider Stonewater at Burton Gardens in Weobley, has been shortlisted for H&V News’ District Heating Project of the Year award.
Stonewater has been working with British manufacturer Kensa Heat Pumps to bring a cheaper and more efficient heating system to 49 Stonewater homes at Burton Gardens. The scheme has seen the replacement of the developments’ expensive electric night storage heaters and immersion hot water heating systems with ground source heat pumps — an innovative renewable heating system which draws heat energy stored in the earth.
The ground source heat pump retrofit scheme, which was completed in December, is set to cut Burton Gardens’ residents heating bills by up to 50%. The scheme is one of eight projects shortlisted for the award.
Leon Storer, Assistant Director of Assets (West) at Stonewater, commented: “We are delighted that our exciting scheme has been shortlisted for this award.”
“We’ve had some really positive feedback from our residents already, with some describing the new system as ‘life-changing’. They’ve gone from struggling with uncontrollable expensive heating — which often would have run out by the time they needed it in the evening — to fully-controllable, affordable warmth.
“We’re really pleased with the outcome of this project and are already looking at further opportunities to upgrade heating systems at our other Stonewater homes.”
David Broom, Technical Sales Manager at Kensa, added: “Burton Gardens is a fantastic example of how ground source heat pumps benefit social housing properties. Individual heat pumps help residents with the lowest possible running costs and individual billing, while the communal ground array allows the housing association access to the Non-Domestic RHI, whilst maximising efficiency as there are no system distribution losses. It’s great to have the innovation and hard work that goes into a scheme like Stonewater’s recognised and shortlisted for these prestigious awards.”
The award winner will be announced at a ceremony on 19 April at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Pictured, from left to right, are: Kensa Commercial Manager David Broom, Stonewater Finance Director John Bruton and Stonewater Assistant Director of Assets (West) Leon Storer.
