Member Article

The future is green for Endeavour and Teesdale homes

Tenants across Teesside and Teesdale will be able to reap the benefits of lower energy bills and greener futures, thanks to several eco initiatives currently underway at North Star Housing Group.

Work is now due to start on the installation of Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) systems to homes in Teesdale. The new systems will lower household fuel bills and provide environmentally friendly heating and hot water for 34 houses in the area.

Almost half of the £238,000 project is being funded through the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) Social Landlords Competition, from the Department of Energy & Climate Change, aimed at getting more renewable heating into the homes of UK tenants.

Chris Harris, group asset manager at North Star, said: “Renewable heating kit like heat pumps really help to keep homes warm and bills down, so it’s great that our tenants will soon be benefitting from these eco friendly heating technologies in their homes.

“The system works by absorbing heat from the outside air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from its inside. It can get heat from the air even when the temperature is as low as -15°C.”

In Teesside, Cosyseal Insulation Ltd, a local, family owned firm based in Stockton on Tees, are working with Endeavour Housing Association, part of the North Star Group, to survey nearly 400 properties in Middlesbrough to determine whether they qualify for the eco improvements, including external wall, internal wall, cavity wall and loft insulation.

Chris Harris said: “We are also signing up residents in the area so they can benefit from another project to install external wall insulation (EWI), funded by the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) programme.

“Cosyseal have been looking to employ local residents in delivering the scheme – giving a much needed to boost to employment in the area as well.”

£1.4million is being invested in the EWI project, approximately £3,500 per property. Work has already started on a similar project in Teesdale, and once the first phase is complete, Cosyseal will start surveying North Star’s properties in other areas, including Hartlepool and East Cleveland. And later this year, North Star will be working with Go Warm to start additional EWI works in Thornaby, with an additional value of over £310,000.

Chris said: “The EWI works are being carried out at no charge to the association, or the participating tenants, and will help local tenants to save money on their heating bills.”

North Star Housing Group has offices in Stockton and Barnard Castle and is responsible for more than 3,500 properties across the North East. For more information about North Star Housing Group, visit www.northstarhg.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North Star Housing Group .