Mark Group

Yates Close ‘go green’

January 2010

The Customer

Affinity Sutton is one of the UK’s leading providers of affordable housing.

The Challenge

To help Affinity Sutton and the residents of Yates Close in East Sussex improve the energy efficiency of their homes and ‘go green’.

The Solution

Mark Group carried out a series of technical surveys to find the best possible ‘green’ solution for the houses on Yates Close. All 18 properties were fitted with double glazed windows and doors, and had insulated lofts, but relied solely on electric heating. Solar Hot Water (Solar Thermal) was therefore recommended by Mark Group as the best option for the properties, as it would supply up to 50%-70% of the residents’ hot water.

In August 2008, a roadshow was held on Yates Close by Mark Group and Affinity Sutton to give residents an opportunity to find out about the installation project, explaining what would be involved and the likely savings on energy bills. The majority of the residents attended and each received an ‘eco goodie bag’ containing further details about the initiative. Residents were also asked to complete a questionnaire asking for their feedback and those that couldn’t attend, were contacted separately and visited at home to address any concerns.

Following the roadshow, all 18 households agreed to take part in the project and due to this level of support, a grant was secured through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme to cover 50% of the initiative’s total £72,000 costs.

Mark Group wasted no time in getting to work. Qualified installers replaced the existing hot water cylinders in each property with new twin immersion insulated cylinders – these would support the Worcester Bosch FKC flat plate collector panels installed on each property and pumping stations in each loft. Easy to use adjustable control panels were also fitted in each airing cupboard, displaying the temperature of the water. And, to help residents keep a close eye on their energy savings, smart displays, which calculate the energy yield in kilo watt hours, were also installed in a number of properties.

Installation work from start to finish took two days per property and was completed between October and November 2008.

Key Facts

• A domestic Solar Hot Water (Solar Thermal) system can reduce carbon emissions by 570kg* per year
• Savings on energy bills are around £50 – £80* per year

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