Improving Energy Efficiency
In seeking to make our homes more energy efficient we are increasingly incorporating alternative sources of energy. This year 2092 homes have been built using a renewable energy source such as solar panels or heat pumps. The inclusion of renewable heat technology will continue to expand as we move towards creating more homes to Level 3 and 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
On the edge of Castle Bromwich our Oaklands development features a range of homes where we have fitted solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems. By harvesting rainwater from roofs and collecting it in underground tanks we are able to re-use the water in WC’s and for garden irrigation. Rainwater harvesting systems such as these can achieve and maintain excellent water quality with a minimum of maintenance and can offer savings of up to 50% on water consumption.
At Alston Grange in Chelmsford we are creating a new residential quarter comprised of 22 new homes which incorporate photovoltaic panels. The photovoltaic panels generate electricity for the homes during day light hours and have the capacity of returning unused electricity to the National Grid. We estimate that residents at Alston Grange will save around £350 per year on their fuel bill. In addition the renewable technology achieves a 10% reduction in carbon emissions.
In higher density developments, particularly in our Thames Gateway division, we have adopted an energy strategy that relies upon generating energy using biomass boilers and combined heat and power (CHP) technology. In Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, we are using a biomass boiler in our SpacE1 development which will reduce C0² emissions by 23% and save around 93,000 kilograms of C0² per year. Our development in Chrisp Street, Poplar also in Tower Hamlets will utilise a CHP system. CHP provides similar reductions in C0² emissions to biomass due to the cogeneration of heat and electricity, thus displacing and reducing the need for electricity from the national grid.