EPC targets drive work for social housing installation specialists
The drive from local authorities and social housing providers to meet EPC Band C or above by the end of the decade, is seeing increasing heat pump take-up, reports compliance and energy services specialist, Sureserve.
Sureserve Compliance Central has just reached the milestone of installing its 1,000th Vaillant heat pump in a social housing property. A combination of Vaillant’s aroTHERM plus air source heat pump, along with sensoCOMFORT controls, sits at the heart of the installation success, the manufacturer reports.
Jon Posey, Technical Director said:
Many social‑housing providers are targeting EPC Band C by 2030 and have been using funding from the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (formerly SHDF) alongside other support under the wider Warm Homes Plan to help finance the energy‑efficiency upgrades needed to reach that goal.”
Sureserve reports that one district council’s tenants are seeing tangible savings on their heating bills as a result of their installation, with some paying just £40 a month in winter, and £10 per month in summer, where the requirement is only hot water.
The company also recognises a key priority is to collaborate with social housing providers on improvement projects.
Jon added:
“As we move to technologies like heat pumps, it is vital we support households through the change, to make sure they feel comfortable with what (for many) is a new way of heating their home. Before we commence any project, we work with Vaillant to ensure a working model of the heat pump is brought to site. This means the residents can see and hear a heat pump in action – often for the first time…Education of this type is essential to gain acceptance and tackle any previously held views around issues such as heat pump noise and ease of use…”
The company also visits each tenant after completion of the installation, to make sure they are happy with the new heating system and know how to control it to suit their needs, Jon said:
Changing mindsets around renewable technologies and promoting the benefits is important if we are to ensure the housing-related decarbonisation journey is successful.”
He added that the company has invested significantly in workforce development, including a dedicated training room equipped with Vaillant products:
It is vital that our workforce feels comfortable about the products we are asking them to install.”
