Broadacres Housing Association, a social housing provider in North Yorkshire, has reached the halfway point in its £5.3 million energy efficiency retrofit programme. The ambitious project aims to improve the energy performance of over 400 older properties across the region, including towns like Easingwold, Bedale, Northallerton, and Ripon, as well as rural communities such as Great Broughton, Osmotherley and Helperby.
Work has been completed on 252 homes so far, with the full programme expected to be finished in Spring 2024. The improvements include the installation of solar panels on all 252 properties, air source heat pumps in 22 homes, loft insulation in 98 homes, underfloor insulation in 10 homes, and smart air bricks in 10 properties.
Ken Westerman, a resident of Helperby, is among those who have already benefited from the programme. His 1960s home has been fitted with solar panels and an air source heat pump, boosting its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating from a D to a B. Westerman has already noticed a significant reduction in his energy bills, attributing this to the solar panels generating electricity for heating and the heat pump's efficiency. He also benefits from a tariff with his electricity supplier that allows him to receive a rebate for any excess electricity generated by the solar panels.
The retrofit programme is part of Broadacres' wider commitment to improving the energy efficiency of its housing stock. The organisation aims to achieve an energy efficiency rating of C or above for all its properties by 2028, contributing to its goal of reaching net zero carbon status by 2050.
Funding for the project was secured from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Helen Ball, Broadacres' senior sustainability manager, highlighted the importance of the programme, stating that "we have always been conscious that the majority of our stock are older properties, and we don't want anyone to miss out on their home being as energy efficient as possible."
This programme demonstrates Broadacres' commitment to tackling climate change and improving the lives of its tenants. By investing in energy efficiency improvements, they are reducing residents' energy bills, creating a more sustainable future, and ensuring their homes are comfortable and affordable to live in.