Older residents at one of our sheltered schemes are experiencing Birmingham’s first ‘demonstrator installation’ of photo-voltaic panels made possible through Birmingham City Council’s innovative Birmingham Energy Savers (BES) programme.
Family is a key partner in BES and is delivering the community engagement activity in this first phase of BES, which is aimed at helping vulnerable households save money whilst boosting their eco credentials.
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Beech Court |
Beech Court at Washwood Heath has been fitted with photo-voltaic panels which generate free electricity for the communal areas of the scheme during daylight hours.
The solar ‘photo-voltaic’ panels on the roof enable the property to become a ‘micro generator’ – converting sunlight into electricity and providing free or lower cost electricity during the day depending on how much power is used.
Family Housing project coordinator Selena Ellis said: “Birmingham Energy Savers provides a win-win situation for residents because it is helping them to save money on their utility bills whilst also saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.
“Family Housing has been one of the leading housing associations in Birmingham for looking at how ‘green’ measures can help residents save money and have a positive impact on the environment.”
Other Family residents in Carlisle Street are also having photo-voltaic panels installed in their homes during October as part of this BES scheme, along with approximately 30 other Birmingham households.
On average it is estimated that the panels could save a household around £190 a year on electricity, assuming that half of the electricity is used by the home and half goes back to the national grid.
The work was made possible thanks to Birmingham City Council, as part of the Birmingham Energy Savers (BES) project , which delivers energy makeovers to homes and businesses.
BES is a five year project to improve energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in housing and small business premises across the city. The project aims to ensure that investment in retrofitting houses and businesses in Birmingham is maximised and has the greatest impact on job creation and business expansion as well as maximising reductions in CO2 emissions and tackling fuel poverty.
The installation was completed in September.