Outside air pump

Tenants of the first City of York Council homes to be fitted with sustainable energy heating systems are ready to cut their carbon footprint – and their fuel bills.

Seven homes at Wenlock Gardens, Wheldrake, have had air source heat pumps installed to provide central heating. The pumps work by absorbing heat from the air – even when the temperature is as low as -15° C – which is used to heat radiators and hot water.

The new heating systems will maintain an even temperature in the home, and by using heat from the air the seven heat pumps are expected to save over 700 tonnes of carbon over the next 25 years and the tenants should save on their money on their fuel bills. The homes have also been fitted with double glazed windows as well as cavity wall and loft insulation to minimise heat loss in winter and keep the homes cooler in summer.

City of York Council paid for the heat pumps using the Renewable Heat Premium Payment grant from the Energy Saving Trust and the installation was managed in partnership with Yorkshire Energy Partnership and Community Energy Solutions.

Besides making these home improvements, council partner York Energy Partnership is also offering free loft and cavity wall insulation to all York householders through the city’s Wrapping up York scheme. For details call York Energy Partnership on 01904 55 44 06.