VELUX’s CarbonLight Homes in Kettering have aided the retrofit of two local 1950s council houses that will act as a new benchmark standard for hundreds more in the area.
Designed and built by HTA and Willmott Dixon, the VELUX CarbonLight Homes achieve a minimum 70% on-site reduction in carbon emissions with the remaining 30% offset using an allowable solution that makes an emission saving off-site.
Kettering Borough Council has used VELUX’s allowable solution donation to help refurbish two homes in Cranford to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The 60 year old properties, which were derelict and deemed structurally unsound, now feature air source heat pumps, solar water heating, bio mass central heating, positive pressure heat recovery units and double glazing.
The homes’ new tenants will help to measure their energy efficiency under real life conditions and help the council to effectively improve even more of the borough’s homes, cutting energy bills for tenants.
Keith Riddle, Managing Director at VELUX, comments: “Off-setting carbon emissions off-site not only provides a more economical alternative for housebuilders but also benefits entire communities, who can reap the rewards of energy efficiency improvements to existing local housing stock or new renewable energy schemes.
“We look forward to seeing the results of the monitoring programme at the Cranford homes and hope our CarbonLight Homes will have a part to play in revolutionising Kettering’s council homes for residents.”
John Conway, Head of Housing at Kettering Borough Council, adds: “We are delighted that VELUX have chosen Kettering as a location for their new CarbonLight Homes and they have contributed to the Council’s ‘Homes for the Future’ project at Cranford.
“The importance of the Cranford project is that it looks to improve the energy efficiency of existing council homes so that they match the standards being achieved in new buildings. As well as being good for the planet, this project will also help our tenants at a time when fuel costs are soaring.”