New heating system to help customers live more comfortably

Stonewater, one of the UK’s largest social housing providers, has partnered with ground source heat pump specialist Kensa to renew the heating system at its Abbey Lodge retirement living scheme.

The project will replace the existing gas system and provide customers with a more reliable and environmentally-friendly source of heating and hot water.

Around 90 customers currently call Abbey Lodge home and in recent years the current heating system supplying a large portion of the scheme has become unsustainable.

Stonewater has invested heavily in repairs in an attempt to keep the system working, however to solve the problem long term and improve energy efficiency, Stonewater is investing in an upgrade.

“We’re committed to providing the best environment for our customers to create spaces they can truly call home,” said Darren Lacey, Strategic Partnership Manager, Stonewater.

“With repeated problems with the heating and hot water at Abbey Lodge there was no question that a full overhaul of the system was needed to fulfil this commitment. This has created an opportunity to look into a more reliable, long-term solution to current issues as well as reduce our carbon footprint.

“Ground source heat pumps are a renewable heating system that extracts solar energy stored in the ground, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels while also replacing the outdated gas boiler system. I’m looking forward to seeing the marked improvement this will provide to the comfort to Abbey Lodge customers.”

Currently, a large portion of the homes at Abbey Lodge are supplied by a boiler situated in one of the site’s buildings.

Not only is this inefficient, as it continuously pumps hot water, but it is also an unreliable source to homes further away from the boiler. It also can be noisy, causing issues for customers living close to the boiler.

The new system will replace it with a network of quiet, efficient pipes circulating hot water heated underground.

The work will include a complete refit of pipes and radiators in every home currently supplied by the gas system.

“Developing the Abbey Lodge system has been an interesting project,” said Iain Carr, Director of Pre-Construction, Kensa.

“We’ve worked closely with Stonewater and the scheme’s customers to assess the heating demands of every property attached to the old system to create the best solution.

“When completed we’ll be working with local plumbing installers to support installation of pipework and radiators in every home requiring upgrades.

“One of the most important things throughout this project will be ensuring we maintain a consistent presence on site to support Stonewater’s customers.

“One of our Resident Liaison Officers will be available to Abbey Lodge customers, through group and individual meetings, to ensure we provide whatever help we can while also minimising disruption.”

As well as considering individual needs of customers to improve their quality of life, this project is also working hard to protect the lives of local wildlife. There are several clans of badgers that call Abbey Lodge’s surrounding areas home, as well as two types of owls, hedgehogs and more.

The installation of the ground source system has been planned to keep all digging and drilling away from these habitats, moving the original planned site for sinking the underground pipework to the opposite site of the scheme, to protect wildlife.

While the works are underway, Stonewater will be exploring additional improvements that can be made to the Abbey Lodge retirement living scheme.

This includes looking at a refresh of the communal garden space to give customers a comfortable space to enjoy, independently and in social situations.