South Shropshire
Housing Association and Kensa Heat Pumps have completed an off-gas heating
retrofit programme featuring ground source heat pumps in rural properties in
Cleobury, Shropshire.
Uniquely, the rural
two-site project accesses two streams of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); St
Mary’s Close features Kensa’s innovative shared ground loop system qualifying
for the Non-Domestic
RHI and ECO,
whilst College Close features individual ground arrays per property to receive
the Domestic
RHI; all properties have their own Kensa Shoebox
ground source heat pump providing tenants with the freedom to switch
electricity suppliers.
Kensa Heat Pumps’
contracting division, Kensa
Contracting Ltd, was appointed principal contractor for the £500k heating
upgrade. The scheme comprises the replacement of ageing electric storage
heating in twenty two bungalows, one flat, a communal room with general needs,
and eight houses.
Bernard Quinn,
Investment Manager for South Shropshire Housing Association says: “Feedback has been
very positive as there is general dissatisfaction with electric storage and
solid fuel heating systems - residents welcome the opportunity to have new
controllable and affordable central heating systems in their homes.
“We were an early
adopter of air and ground source heating. It’s been a key part of our
affordable warmth strategy for the last eight years’. So far it’s estimated
that the Group has saved its tenants nearly a quarter of a million pounds in
their heating bills. This project contributes to a total of more than 280
renewable heating installations at 42 locations across Shropshire, where fuel
poverty is always high on the agenda.”
