Insulation, Solar Panels, Heat Pumps and Wind Turbines From Mark Group

St Faith's Lodge

February 2008

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St George’s Crypt run two hostels in Leeds, one at Faith Lodge and another at Regent Terrace. St George’s Crypt has been helping people in need in Leeds for 77 years.

Faith Lodge is a residential hostel, part of a Leeds housing project for people recovering from alcohol related difficulties. It opened in July 1954 and today it helps more than 30,000 people per year including victims of domestic violence and alcohol and drug abuse. It houses up to 15 residents at any one time.

The Challenge

Mark Group became involved in the project through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. The programme provides grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors.

The hostel was undergoing a complete refurbishment programme and the main challenge was to make the hostel as energy efficient and as sustainable as possible. Mark Group initially surveyed the hostel for the installation of a Solar Hot Water System and Wind Turbine to generate electricity.

Post survey, Mark Group decided it was not viable to go ahead with the Wind turbine. A small weather station was temporarily installed to test for wind suitability for the proposed turbine, and the results showed that wind speeds were less than 5m/s and there were a number of obstructing trees which would also impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of a wind turbine.

The Solution

Mark Group, therefore, installed five Worcester Bosch FKC solar panels (a two and three panel system) on the roof of the hostel, angled to capture sunlight for the maximum amount of time each day.

The solar panels mean there is a constant supply of hot water to the hostel. The hot water is fed into storage cylinders in the basement which supplies the hostel’s 15 bedrooms, which all have en suite facilities, as well as the kitchens and washing machines.

The panels are expected to provide sufficient heat for all the hostel’s needs in summer and a substantial part in winter.

Faith Lodge is believed to be the first supported housing hostel of its type in the UK to become self-sustainable – with the systems in place putting the project well on the road to being almost entirely carbon neutral.

Faith Lodge’s ‘green’ refurbishment has been praised by the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, who has declared himself "really impressed" by the innovations at the project.

Mr Benn, MP for Leeds Central, said: "I am really impressed by the environmental measures that have been installed as part of this restoration project. It shows what can be done to help the environment at the same time as helping the clients at Faith Lodge."

Gary Stott, Chief Executive Officer of St George’s Crypt, said: "We are very excited at the refurbishment of Faith Lodge. Not only will we be able to provide real opportunities for our residents to learn vital new skills, but we will also be making a contribution to using energy at the hostel much more effectively."

Following the success of the refurbishment at Faith Lodge, St George’s Crypt have plans to ‘green up’ their other hostel facility Regent Terrace, also in Leeds.

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