North West-based housing association Great Places has helped residents stay warm and save money this winter by fitting more than 120 homes with Radflek Radiator Reflectors.
The reflectors were fitted as part of the housing group’s annual You Can Glow campaign, which aims to help protect vulnerable residents’ homes against falling temperatures – keeping tenants comfortable and cutting their bills during the colder months. The 2014 campaign saw Great Places fit 340 radiators with market-leading Radflek sheets, which are proven to reflect 95%1 of wasted heat from the rear of the radiator back into the room. This not only helps homes heat up faster but also improves heating system efficiency for instant cost savings.
Sarah McClelland, environmental manager at Great Places, says: “The You Can Glow campaign is hugely popular with our residents – some of whom are facing challenging economic circumstances – and the results show that 2014 was our most successful year ever. As well as fitting Radflek in 126 homes, our volunteers also installed gadgets including socket timers, handed out hot drinks and biscuits, and distributed advice leaflets and thermostats to help residents be more aware about their energy use and the support schemes available to them.
“The campaign is all about getting homes ready for winter, so Radflek is the perfect fit. Not only does it hang quickly and discreetly behind any conventional radiator without any fiddly sticking, but it also starts working straight away and keeps delivering ongoing savings for residents for years to come. Most tenants were able to fit the sheets themselves, with our team of volunteers providing support for any who needed it. The You Can Glow visits have also been a great way to tackle social exclusion, with volunteers from across the company personally visiting residents in their homes.”
Radflek’s high-performance reflective sheets are at least 23% more efficient than saw-toothed radiator reflectors1 and take just three minutes to fit (they simply hang on the radiator’s wall brackets using the heat-proof clips provided). Once fitted, they reduce heat loss through the wall behind the radiator by 45%,1 and their hardwearing protective coating means the aluminium is protected from tarnishing and losing reflectivity over time (as conventional foil does).
Michael Back, sales director at Radflek, says: “The You Can Glow campaign is a brilliant example of a housing association taking real steps to improve the efficiency of its properties. The campaign will help keep residents warm and healthy over the cold winter months – and here at Radflek we’re very proud to have been a part of it. This year’s You Can Glow has seen Great Places fit an impressive 672m2 of Radflek. This not only means it will cut its homes’ emissions by around 239 tonnes over the next 15 years, but also that hundreds of residents are set to feel the benefit of warmer, more efficient homes and lower bills. As temperatures drop and energy costs continue to soar, this is good news for everyone.”
As well as the 96m rolls designed for larger projects like You Can Glow, Radflek is also available in three-, five-, and eight-sheet packs, which contain everything required for speedy, straightforward fitting. Radflek has been independently tested by the BBA, verified by the BRE and approved by Ofgem for CERT scheme use. It is also an Energy Saving Trust Listed Product.