A Salford housing associations says it has saved residents hundreds of pounds after installing solar panels on homes across the city.
Salix Homes recently completed solar panel installations to 49 properties after securing funding through the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The orgaisation says that tenants are already seeing the benefits on their energy bills.
Julie Pemberton, who lives in Weaste, said: “I have had the solar panels installed now for several months and I’m saving roughly £4-5 per week on my electricity. I know this as fact, as being on a pre-payment metre allows me to see my usage and expenditure.
“Having the solar panels installed will save me over £200 per year and helps with climate change – it’s a win-win situation.”
David Malsom, Salix’s sustainability manager, said: “Our latest solar panel project is another step forward in our ongoing commitment to sustainability, and improving the lives and homes of our customers.
“Harnessing the power of the sun through the solar panels, we are not only helping to protect the environment, but also offering tangible benefits to residents which go beyond financial savings.
“By using clean, renewable energy, we are actively reducing the carbon footprint of our communities and supporting the transition to a greener, more sustainable future for all.”
Salix Homes worked alongside its contractor partner, Emanuel Whittaker to carry out the solar panel installations.
Terry Kidman, the contractor’s contracts manager, said: “Once again we were delighted to be given the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the residents in Salford, and help Salix Homes towards achieving their carbon neutrality targets.
“At the same time, we managed to undertake a number of enhancements to the ventilation of the properties that we hope will contribute to both the health and well-being of the residents, and the fabric of the buildings themselves.”
Salix Homes secured £236,000 from the government’s SHDF to help fund the project, following a successful bid from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on behalf of social housing providers across Greater Manchester.
The SHDF scheme provides financial support to social housing providers and local authorities to undertake energy efficiency and decarbonisation measures.
Green city vision
Councillor Tom Ross, the GMCA’s lead for the green city region, said: “Ongoing work to reduce the energy used in homes across Greater Manchester is playing a vital role in reducing both carbon emissions and energy bills, helping make our city-region a greener and fairer place for all. It’s fantastic to see how tenants are already benefiting from the many improvements being made to their homes, all whilst supporting the growth of the retrofit employment sector and contributing to Greater Manchester’s long-term environmental vision – to be carbon neutral by 2038.”
The solar panel installations are part of wider energy efficiency improvements being carried out to homes across Salford, which also includes external wall and loft insulation, new doors and windows, heat pumps and smart sensors.
The next major decarbonisation project for Salix Homes is a £10m eco-transformation at neighbouring tower blocks Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court, which is also being partially funded via a SHDF grant.
The planned improvement work includes external wall and roof insulation, new windows and ventilation and an eco-friendly ground source heating system, making the homes greener and more energy efficient.
Main image: Tenant Julie Pemberton with Glenn Martin, director of investment, development and sustainability at Salix Homes; Lee Hurst, site manager at Emanuel Whittaker; and David Malsom, sustainability manager at Salix Homes
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