Case Study: Solar Water Heating Programme

Short Description

Aims and Objectives:
- To reduce fuel poverty for Housing Executive tenants;
- To reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Housing Executive dwellings;
- To maximise the number of solar panels installed for the funding available;
- To publicise the use of renewable energy in Northern Ireland by making it available in large numbers in social housing.

Planning:
- Small project team set up comprising Technical staff, the Project Manager, Energy Conservation staff and an Energy Consultant. Project plan produced with target dates and key milestones.
- The project team produced selection criteria e.g. dwellings must have a pitched roof, south facing, no overshadowing, have a cupboard large enough for the solar cylinder and do not have an electric shower.
- Set of criteria agreed for the selection of the solar panels based on price, ease of installation, supplier support, warranty, maintenance and aesthetics.
- By utilising the existing heating replacement programme and the Housing Executive’s two main heating contractors, administration, labour and procurement costs have been reduced substantially ensuring that more dwellings receive solar panels.
- Consultation carried out with the Housing Community Network.
he Heating Contractors and staff from the Housing Executive attended training courses on solar thermal installations. This ensured good quality installations.
- The heating contractors were able to programme the work efficiently as part of the heating contracts and carry out the consultation with individual tenants prior to the work commencing.
- The source of funding was the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund.
- The profile of the social housing tenants was such that it was likely that many would be in Fuel Poverty.

Key Elements

Heating and Hot Water

Hot water costs were reduced as up to 60 % of annual hot water costs will be free.

Solar Thermal

This scheme in Northern Ireland is the first attempt to mainstream renewable technology in social housing.

Partnership Working

The external contractors were trained, and as the Housing Executive is the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland the initiative got wide cover in both the energy industry and sector and in terms of advice to the general public.

Certification

Energy certification and assessment, building inspection and energy audit, energy performance certification all took place.

Project Management

Stock condition survey carried out, energy efficient refurbishment provided.

Project management was set up and products/materials selected, quality control (monitoring performance of technologies/monitoring quality of services.

Work with Residents

The Heating Contractors appointed by the Housing Executive , as well as Housing Executive staff attended training courses on solar thermal installations.

The heating contractors carried out detailed consultation with individual tenants before the work began.

There was continual liaison with tenants to ensure that they understood how to get the best out of the solar heating system and hand out material was provided.

Funding

Funding was accessed through the UK Government.

Main Results

• The scheme has positively impacted on the strategies of many government departments, such as fuel poverty, energy conservation, air quality and carbon reduction. It has contributed to the improvement of the energy efficiency of residential properties and meeting Home Energy Conservation Authority targets.
• Many Housing Executive tenants will be taken out of fuel poverty as up to 60% of their annual hot water costs will be free.
• Savings generated go straight to the most needy.
• It is the first attempt to mainstream renewable technology in social housing.
• Social housing normally lags behind the private sector, however, this project leaves the private sector playing catch up with social landlords.
• It is the largest scheme of its kind in Europe.
• It has raised the profile of renewables in the Province as the panels are visible in large numbers in housing estates.
• By innovative use of existing resources, in cooperation with the heating contract partners, costs have been kept to a minimum allowing the installation of an even greater number of panels.
• Efficient delivery of the programme had a positive impact on being able to lever in even more funding.
• It has increased the number of expert installers in the Province.

Lessons learned

• Tenant surveys were carried out by the contractors to gauge tenant reaction to the solar panels and feedback was excellent.
• Monitoring equipment has been installed in 5 dwellings As an example one of the dwellings has been monitored for the month of May 2007. The average amount of solar energy collected daily was 5.9kW. The amount of hot water used averaged 6.4kW. This demonstrates that 92% of the family’s hot water needs were produced by solar energy.
• It has been estimated that annual savings on each installation amounted to 1450 kWhs per system. For the first year of the programme savings would have amounted to 816,000 kWhs.
• With new heating system and solar panels installed at the same time the likely carbon dioxide savings amounted to 1 tonnes per year per installation.
• Publicity for the project was instrumental in raising the profile of solar water heating in Northern Ireland.