You are here: / / Karbon Homes

BACKGROUND

Karbon Homes owns and manages close to 30,000 homes across the North East and Yorkshire. The housing provider is rising to the government’s Clean Growth Strategy targets of all homes achieving an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

With the rising cost of energy, paired with an increased awareness of the impact homes have on the environment, Karbon is working with its residents across the North East to retrofit their homes and install greener heating options which could reduce their household bills.

Karbon embarked on two projects across County Durham and Northumberland, one was a retrofit programme which saw them install energy improvement works to 97 homes, including fitting external wall, cavity, loft and underfloor insulation, new roofs and PV panels. The other was a renewable heat project where 350 air source heat pumps were fitted into rural, off grid homes that were previously powered by solid fuel.

ACTION

The £2.5 million retrofit programme, delivered in partnership with Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council, has seen homes in the villages of Ouston and Otterburn fitted with measures including fitting external wall, cavity, loft and underfloor insulation, new roofs and PV panels.

As well as lowering the carbon emissions the homes produce by hundreds of kilograms, these measures could help residents save up to 40% on their energy bills. The works also mean the homes are less susceptible to damp and mould; and the wider community benefits from an improved street scene.

As part of the renewable heat project, Karbon fitted almost 350 air source heat pumps (ASHPs) into rural homes across Northumberland and County Durham that are off the gas grid and currently powered by solid fuel. As well as helping residents to save money on fuel, the work also supports the UK Government’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

ASHPs are a renewable and more efficient alternative to the traditional heating and hot water systems powered by fossil fuels. They absorb heat from the outside air, boost it to a higher temperature using a compressor, and transfer it to the heating system when needed. The pump can absorb heat even in extremely low temperatures, making them effective all year round.

IMPACT

Claire and Stephen Riddell had an air source heating system installed in their Karbon bungalow in Otterburn as part of the renewable heat project. The couple can’t speak highly enough of the technology, which they claim has not only drastically reduced their heating and hot water bills but has also helped lower their carbon footprint.

Stephen said: “Turned on for just a few hours on an evening, the house is warmed up lovely and stays warm through the night, and the system is also really environmentally friendly. Global warming is happening and I worry for the likes of my daughter and grandkids.”

KARBON RESIDENT COLIN BARNES HAS SEEN HIS HOME BENEFIT FROM THE RETROFIT PROGRAMME. COLIN SAID:

My home must be about 70 years old. It really needed modernising so it could be warmer and stronger. The programme has given it a total overhaul. It’s incredible really. The work has included more insulation as well as improvements to the roof.

There were bits and pieces of mess along the way, but that’s to be expected when it’s such a big job. RE:GEN, the team handing the works, were excellent. They kept me informed of what was going on and helped me with anything I couldn’t manage myself. It’s well worth a little bit of inconvenience for years of future benefits.

The difference it makes to the warmth of the house was immediate and really noticeable. I just pop the heating on for 20 minutes at a time because the house stays warm for so long.

LESSONS LEARNT

Allow time for the administrative elements. Due to the scale of the retrofit project, there were various administrative and organisational elements that needed completing before any works could start on site. This resulted in some delays to the project timeline which, because of the outlined funding delivery window, meant works were forced to take place during the winter months. Some of the works were quite sensitive to weather conditions so working through winter, of which 2022/23 was a particularly wet and cold winter, added further delays than anticipated. Karbon Homes will be factoring this learning into future projects and, where possible, the programme will be managed so that works are carried out when conditions will not stop play. Longer term funding programmes would offer more flexibility which would help providers to avoid this.

Recognise that moving to a new heating system can be a big change for residents. As the project has progressed, Karbon’s understanding has increased around the levels of support residents need to ensure they can fully benefit and make the most of the change. This varies from ensuring residents fully understand how to use the system to helping them to recognise the most efficient and cost-effective way to run it. The resources Karbon offer and levels of support they provide to residents have developed as the programme has progressed.

Karbon was also involved in the Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury which saw 30 social housing tenants produce a set of recommendations to the sector on how to work together to tackle climate change in our homes and neighbourhoods.

FUTURE PLANS

Over the next two years Karbon Homes will be investing a further £3.6 million in improving the energy efficiency of 218 more homes in Northumberland and County Durham.

These homes will benefit from a mix of insulation including external wall, underfloor, cavity wall and loft top-ups. Some will also be fitted with Solar PV panels.

These further improvements have been supported by a grant from Wave 2 of the SHDF and will contribute towards a wider £80 million retrofit investment across the North East and Yorkshire, delivered by a consortium of 18 housing associations, councils and ALMOs in the region and led by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub.