Improving Energy Efficiency to Council Homes

We are about to commence an exciting new programme to provide more efficient, effective and greener heating systems to a number of our Council homes.

This is a two year programme that will include the replacement of solid fuel and electric storage heating systems with air source heating systems to all council homes in ‘off-gas’ areas that are not on the national grid in terms of the provision of a mains gas supply.

The heating replacement programme will be supported by the installation where appropriate of loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and/or external wall insulation.

The benefits this package of improvements will provide include:

• Warmer homes;
• Potentially lower fuel bills;
• Lower home carbon emissions;
• No requirement for fuel deliveries or fuel storage facilities;
• Greater convenience, particularly for anyone with mobility issues;
• Reduced maintenance requirements.

The improvement programme will be delivered by our contractor partner, Everwarm, who are a specialist company specifically procured by the council for their expertise and successful track record for this type of work.

It will be managed by the Council’s Housing Asset Management Team, the key contacts for which will be:

• Andy Murray                 Asset Manager
• Peter Ward                    Contract Supervisor
• Sarah Richardson         Resident Liaison Officer

The first year of the programme, from March 2018 to March 2019, will focus on the replacement of all solid fuel heating systems working on a geographical basis to the indicative timetable highlighted in the table below.

The second year of the programme from April 2019 to April 2020 will focus on the replacement of all electric storage heating systems.

Approximately six weeks prior to commencing work in each area, a representative from Everwarm will be in contact with each tenant to arrange to undertake a survey of their home. This will include a full heating survey and the completion of an Energy Performance Certificate to determine all work required to each property to maximise the benefits of these improvements.

Everwarm will also have a ‘mobile demonstration vehicle’ in each area during the period of time that surveys are being undertaken to enable tenants to see an air source heating system and ask any specific questions that they might have about the system itself. We will also be providing tenants with all the relevant literature and advice that they need prior to commencing any work to ensure that they are fully informed about the work we are undertaking.

Following the two 'show homes' with air source heat pumps installed, in Albert Village and Worthington, there is due to be a third property in another village within the district. Details of which are not yet available, this page will be updated once confirmed. 

The show home will be open and staffed and we would welcome anyone dropping in to see a fully installed system up and running and taking the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.                                                          

Wherever possible we will provide a ‘show home’ facility in each area as we move through the programme over the next two years.

There is also a Air Source Heat Pump Customer Information Brochure (PDF Document, 2 Mb) and a Air Source Heating Systems Frequently Asked Questions (PDF Document, 0.19 Mb) that provide further information about the new heating systems, how they work, how to use them, the installation process, and an introduction to the team managing the installations.  The frequently asked questions document has been put together to answer the queries which tenants have raised.

Should anyone have any queries or require any additional information at this stage please contact any of the team members listed above on 01530 454729. You can also email: peter.ward@nwleicestershire.gov.uk or sarah.richardson@nwleicestershire.gov.uk