Residents at Lullington Close in Wythenshawe, Manchester, are set to benefit from lower bills and warmer homes this winter following the installation of a new networked heat pump system by leading British heat pump manufacturer and installer, Kensa.
The project, delivered for Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, has seen outdated electric night storage heaters in 19 one-bedroom social flats replaced with Kensa's highly efficient Shoebox ground source heat pumps. The compact units, installed inside each home, will provide residents with reliable, low-cost renewable heating and hot water.
It's the first time Kensa has worked with the Manchester-based housing provider. The heating retrofit project forms part of the social landlord's efforts to futureproof its homes and support its residents, installing low-carbon heating and making energy-efficiency improvements across its estate.
Seven boreholes were drilled around the flats to harness the renewable underground heat energy used by the heat pumps. A shared network of pipes connects these to the heat pumps, which are neatly tucked away inside a cupboard in each flat.
The heat pumps are expected to last between 20 and 25 years, while the underground pipe network will collect heat energy for over 100 years. With all the infrastructure hidden underground and the heat pumps located inside the home, the scheme has been delivered with no more visual impact or disruption than installing gas.
Replacing electric storage heaters, which are often costly to run, with modern ground source heat pumps will improve comfort and significantly reduce heating bills. The new system will be around 300% energy efficient, delivering over three units of heat for every unit of electricity used, making it three times as efficient as the previous system.
In other projects where Kensa has replaced electric night storage heaters with networked heat pumps, residents have seen energy bills fall by as much as 50%, sometimes more. With nearly one in four UK homes that use electric heaters living in fuel poverty, the project is expected to deliver meaningful savings and improve residents' quality of life.
The installation also comes as Greater Manchester Combined Authority allocates its Warm Homes Social Housing Fund to deliver energy efficiency and clean heat upgrades across its portfolio. Lullington Close offers a replicable model that delivers long-term improvements for residents across the city-region.
Stuart Gadsden, Commercial Director at Kensa, said:
"We're proud to be working with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, helping deliver warmer, more efficient homes and lower energy bills for its residents. Replacing outdated and expensive night storage heaters with ground source heat pumps ensures affordable, reliable heating and hot water all year round, without residents worrying about high costs.
"Each flat at Lullington Close is getting its own British-made Kensa Shoebox heat pump, providing all its heating and hot water needs. These homes join thousands of others across the UK already benefitting from our networked heat pump system, showing how we can cut carbon, tackle fuel poverty, and strengthen the UK's energy security at scale, without leaving anyone behind."
Victoria Marsh, Project Manager at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said:
"Kensa have been excellent in their engagement with residents at Lullington Close and in working collaboratively to deliver this scheme. We're looking forward to reviewing the long-term savings from the new system and continuing our efforts to reduce Wythenshawe's carbon footprint."
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