Energy efficiency continues to be a hot topic for property as housing providers gear up to meet rigorous efficiency rules. John Forster, Chairman of Solar Trade Association Scotland, reveals how solar roofing can improve homes and lives.
Despite the UK government’s commitment to the Green Deal, improving inefficient, draughty properties remains a pressing issue for social landlords to tackle ahead of the cold months. Meanwhile fuel poverty remains a widespread problem across the sector, with recent National Housing Federation figures revealing one in 10 social housing households in England is fuel-poor. Over in Scotland, just below a million households in total have been affected.
Introducing EESSH
The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) was launched in March 2014 with the objective of improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s social housing stock. The standard sets a minimum energy efficiency (EE) rating for each social home (see Table 1), for landlords to achieve before the end of 2020.
The rating depends upon the dwelling and the fuel type used to heat it. In essence, EESSH will mean that no social home can be lower than a C or D rating, resulting in warmer homes, lower fuel consumption, and subsequently, lower fuel bills and less tenants in fuel poverty.
Social housing is already significantly more energy efficient than private rented or owner occupied homes. As of 1st April 2015, 64 per cent of social homes were already meeting EESSH. However, this means there are 218,000 homes yet to meet the standard.
Solar solution
Landlords should select the energy efficiency measure that best fits with their stock profile. Solar PV can be a suitable solution to meeting the EESSH criteria for many social homes as it is cost effective and less intrusive than other measures such as external or internal wall insulation. Moreover, as Table 2 shows, it can have a significant impact on EE ratings.
The availability of more attractive, robust integrated in-roof solar PV solutions, combined with electrical and heat storage systems, can further enhance the appeal of solar PV for social housing landlords.
Solar can be easily incorporated into roof renewal programmes, helping to pay for and generate a return from the works as well as producing a cheaper, cleaner electricity supply for social landlords or their tenants.
Likewise, ahead of retro-fit solar installations, it is important to consider the age and condition of the roof onto which the system is being installed. It may be more cost-effective (in terms of avoiding future duplication of infrastructure costs) to renew the roof at the same time.
Combining PV and roofing
Forster Roofing completed the installation of an 80 panel (20 kWp) in-roof PV system in conjunction with the re-tiling of a sheltered housing complex in Brechin for Angus Council.
The project was awarded as a result of our ability to provide all the roofing and solar PV installation works in-house and also, as we were able to host educational visits for local high school pupils. The 800 mC roof area of the complex was re-tiled with around 8,000 Marley Modern smooth grey tiles and the 80 black framed PV panels were integrated into the two south facing roof elevations.
The system generates approximately 17,000 kWh of electricity, which is being used to provide power for the communal areas including residents lounges, kitchen and laundry facilities. As part of the contract, we provided a workshop on the workings of solar PV for two groups of Physics pupils from Brechin High School.
Solar legacy for Athletes’ Village
Forster took part in supplying solar panel roofing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games’ Athletes’ Village, which was transformed into a 700-home housing development and one of the most long-lasting legacies of the sport event. The firm was selected by Mactaggart and Mickel to deliver a ‘one stop’ integrated solar PV, roofing and roof window installation service to almost a third of the 700 homes.
Around 300 houses were allocated for private sale, with the remaining 400 houses for social rent through three local housing associations – Glasgow, Thenue and West of Scotland.
Forsters designed, installed and commissioned the in-roof and ballasted flat roof PV systems to 225 homes. Black trim 250 Wp panels and an in-roof mounting system (for the pitched roofs) were selected by City Legacy to create a sleek design and finish for this prestigious development.
Heat batteries and inexpensive power diverters can be fitted in conjunction with PV to store electricity for combi boilers or to heat immersion water tanks, maximising tenants’ self-consumption, creating savings on both their electricity and hot water heating bills.
A heat battery stores excess electricity as heat. Water flows through the battery increasing in temperature so the combi boiler does not have to work with the same intensity.
Social landlords can access a range of funding options to help pay for energy efficiency measures to bring their homes up to EESSH.
Further ahead, a review of the standard is planned in 2017, which will consider the setting of longer term milestones in line with the requirements of the 2050 Climate Change target of an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions against the 1990 baseline.
This feature was published in the September 2016 issue of Housing Management & Maintenance.
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