Yates Close ‘go green’ worked closely with Mark Group to achieve a great Energy Efficient solution

Yates Close ‘go green’

January 2010

The Client

Affinity Sutton, one of the UK’s leading providers of affordable housing. Mark Group has been working in partnership with Affinity Sutton since May 2007 and have undertaken a series of cavity wall and loft insulation projects. More recently we have installed a number of solar hot water systems.

The Challenge

To help affordable housing provider Affinity Sutton and the residents of Yates Close, Camber Rye, East Sussex ‘go green’ and improve their homes energy efficiency.

The Process

Mark Group completed a number of technical surveys to look at the best possible ‘green’ solution for the houses on Yates Close.

The Solution

All 18 of the Affinity Sutton owned homes at Yates Close were fitted with double glazed windows and doors and had their loft insulated, but relied solely on electric heating. Solar Hot Water was identified by Mark Group as the best suited method of making the Close efficient and sustainable and could supply up to 50% -70% of residents’ hot water for free.

In August 2008, a roadshow was staged by Mark Group and Affinity Sutton on Yates Close, to discuss with residents what the work would involve and the likely cost savings. Nearly two thirds of households attended the roadshow and received an ‘eco goodie bag’ giving further details about the initiative. Residents’ were also asked to complete a questionnaire inviting feedback. Those that couldn’t attend the event were also written to asking them for their views and they were visited at home to address any concerns.

Following the roadshow all 18 households signed up to take part and thanks to its success the Low Carbon Buildings Programme agreed to meet 50% of the initiative’s total £72,000 costs. The works consisted of replacing the existing hot water cylinders with new twin immersion insulated cylinders, the installation of two Worcester Bosch FKC flat plate collector panels to each property and the installation of a pumping station in each loft. An easy to use adjustable control panel was also fitted in each airing cupboard,
showing the temperature of the water. A smart display, which calculates the energy yield in kilo watt hours, was also fitted to a number of properties to monitor costs savings.

Work started on the 13 October 2008 and was completed in November 2008 – each property taking two days to complete.

Key Facts

Each panel is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 0.75 tonnes per property and 13.5 tonnes for the whole project.
Each panel, over their 10 year lifetime they will each save up to 7.5 tonnes of carbon emissions.
It is anticipated that each property will save around £160 per annum.
Monitoring indicates 620 kilo watt hours have so far been saved which equates to savings of £100.75 in six months.

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