sustainability
Cross Keys Homes to roll out solar PV installation
Peterborough-based housing association Cross Keys Homes says more than 2,600 of its tenants will benefit from cheaper energy bills with its new deal to install photovaoltaic solar panels on their homes.
The scheme, a partnership between Cross Keys Homes, Strategic Team Group and Macquarie Lending, is the biggest partnership of its kind and is aimed at alleviating fuel poverty for Cross Keys Homes’ tenants. Installation of the first solar panels is underway and is fully funded by Macquarie Lending, requiring no financial contribution from Cross Keys Homes.
Cross Keys estimates its tenants could save up to £250 per home, collectively saving more than £500,000 per annum. The scheme is part of the UK’s largest free solar roll-out, a programme being funded by Macquarie Lending, and installed and maintained by Strategic Team Group.
Chairman of Cross Keys Homes, Dr Angus Kennedy (pictured), said: “We are determined to do all that we can to alleviate the hardship many of our residents are facing at this difficult time, as well as lead the way in the housing sector using new and unique initiatives. This is a fantastic opportunity for our residents and one which we are very proud to be embarking on. It will help many residents in their fight against fuel poverty and hopefully will encourage more housing associations and social landlords to embark on this superb initiative.” Andrew Watson, Strategic Team Group’s managing director, said: “Cross Keys Homes is committed to helping its tenants financially and has capitalised on our free model that offers huge fuel bill savings for its customers by installing PV panels at no cost and no risk.”
Northlands Housing wins SHIFT award
Manchester-based Northwards Housing, an ALMO that manages 13,500 homes on behalf of Manchester City Council, has been awarded a Silver SHIFT Award (Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow), which uses rigorous measurements to test housing providers’ green credentials. The prize was awarded in recognition of its efforts to tackle climate change. Northwards introduced a Green Champions scheme, which offered advice to tenants and staff on how to save energy, while its Green Car scheme gave staff the chance to lease an energy-efficient car through a salary- sacrifice programme. Claire Hopkins, head of investment and strategic asset management, said: “Awards like this recognise the hard work our staff put in to make our homes and offices as green as they can be. As fuel bills increase and demands on all our pockets get bigger, the work we are doing becomes more and more important. We’re saving money as well as saving the environment.”
32| January 2014 showhouse
Government announces cuts to solar energy and onshore wind funding
The government has announced cuts to its support for solar energy and onshore wind power, but says it will increase backing for offshore wind projects. Confirming the levels of financial support for renewables between 2015 and 2019, the government revealed that funding for onshore wind will be reduced by £5 per megawatt hour from 2015 onwards compared to the draft strike prices, while the level of support for offshore wind will be increased by £5 per megawatt hour, from £135 to £140.
Large-scale solar photovoltaic projects will receive £120 per megawatt hour in 2014- 16, dropping to £115 in 2016-17 and £110 in 2017-19. Under the draft strike prices, published in summer 2013, solar was expected to receive £5 more per megawatt hour up to 2018. Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey said: “This package will deliver record levels of investment in green energy by 2020. Our reforms are succeeding in attracting investors from around the world so Britain can replace our ageing power stations and keep the lights on. Investors are queuing up to express their interest in
these contracts. This shows that we are providing the certainty they need, our reforms are working and we are delivering ahead of schedule and to plan. With 16 new major renewable projects progressing in our ‘go early’ stage we are delivering ahead of schedule and are able to begin the move to the world’s first low carbon electricity market faster than expected.” RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “We welcome the fact that the government has heeded the wind industry’s call for a more realistic level of financial support for offshore wind. It sends an important political signal that the government recognises the need to back this sector, if we are to attract big wind turbine manufacturers to the UK to open up factories creating tens of thousands of jobs. Obviously any reduction in support for onshore wind is unwelcome, and the government had promised that any drop would be based purely on economic evidence. Onshore wind is the most cost- effective form of renewable energy we have, so if we want to keep energy bills as low as possible, we need to ensure the level of support is right.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116