Member Article

Gentoo Group Project in Low-carbon Biomass Boost

A £3.9m investment in low carbon testing and energy efficiency measures helping heat Washington homes and keeping residents warm during the cold snap.

Nearly 100 Gentoo properties in Glebe, Washington, are now being heated from a central boiler that can use gas or be fired by wood pellets (biomass).

All the properties have also been upgraded and re-fitted with the latest energy conservation measures to help them keep snug.

As well as keeping homes warm, the project is reducing energy costs, tackling fuel poverty, contributing to local and national carbon reduction targets, and helping to create jobs.

As a Low Carbon Energy Demonstration project, the heating system and energy conservation measures are a showpiece for how Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can improve their capacity, skills and environmental management, and help meet the demand for innovative low carbon and renewable energy measures.

The project secured a £1.94m grant from the European Regional Development Fund, which is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, plus additional investment from Gentoo Group, and the City Council.

It is testing and then determining the most energy efficient solutions to different challenges and taking this information forward to future projects.

Councilor Neil Foster, Deputy Chair of the North East ERDF Local Management Committee, said: “This is an excellent pilot project that will help local businesses to grow and diversify, creating jobs as well as helping to reduce regional carbon emissions by improving the homes of people in Washington. “This worthy project also goes much further than that by aiming to accelerate take-up of energy-saving measures and prepare businesses in the North East for the projected increase in demand for new energy saving products through targeted training and support. The result will be private sector growth which is vital to a stronger local economy.”

The project has been benefiting bungalows in the Glebe area of Washington which were working off the main gas network and heated by electric night storage heaters with hot water provided through an electric immersion tank.

Gentoo customer Joan Leonard lives in the new and upgraded Roche Court homes and said: “We feel a big difference since the work has been done. The house is holding the heat better and it’s not as drafty. It’s much warmer and we can even use our dining room now, it was too cold before. We’ve even had to swap from our winter quilt to our summer one. The workmen were polite and didn’t make a mess, we’re very grateful.”

Gentoo Group commissioned the design and installation of the communal energy centre and district heating network, powered by biomass – such as wood chippings - and gas to provide the heat and hot water to the 97 properties.

Gentoo are also improving the thermal performance of the properties by installing insulated external cladding, double glazed windows, a pitched roof system with loft insulation and Solar Photovoltaic. John Turner, Deputy Director of Gentoo Property Services, said: “At Gentoo we aim to improve our customers’ Art of Living and this project is a fantastic opportunity to help us do that. Through redesigning these properties, we are significantly improving their thermal efficiency while at the same time improving their overall appearance.

“This creative and innovative solution demonstrates how a range of sustainable energy solutions can be retrofitted to homes to improve the comfort and financial position of customers.”

The European Regional Development Fund Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is bringing more than £300m into North East England to support innovation, enterprise and business support. It is helping create and safeguard 28,000 new jobs, start 3,000 new businesses and increase the region’s productivity by £1.1bn per annum.

Gentoo Group’s whole ethos is about believing nothing is impossible and finding new ways to challenge conventions, Gentoo aims to make society a better place to live and to make a real difference to the way people live their life. To find out more about Gentoo, visit gentoogroup.com for more information or follow @gentoogroup on Twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Laura Facey .