Green heating scheme keeps Birmingham council tenant in the black

Birmingham City Council has helped to drastically reduce a council tenant’s gas bill after installing an innovative, environmentally friendly renewable technology to his home.

As part of a pilot scheme, Thomas Vale Construction sponsored the council and installed a ground source heat pump in place of the existing boiler in the home of Mr and Mrs Tamblin, from Yardley Wood, Birmingham at a cost of £15,000.

A Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) is designed to take advantage of natural heat from within the ground. They can provide hot water and heating for homes, schools and businesses for a fraction of the cost. Heat pumps are designed to provide a comfortable heat all year round whilst reducing carbon emissions and producing a constant, reliable energy source.

It is the first time such experimental technology has been installed in a residential property in Birmingham, in an urban environment and is the first scheme of its kind in the Midlands.

Paul Dockerill, director at Thomas Vale Construction said: “This innovative scheme will help to reduce our carbon impact as a society if implemented in more houses and hope this is the beginning of a bright future for renewable technologies in homes across the Midlands.”

The council had recently funded the repairs on the Tamblin’s external walls and roof and were about to install a new boiler system. After discussions with Thomas Vale Construction who were working on the Tambling’s house at the time, they decided to run the £15, 000 pilot scheme in their house in Yardly Wood, Birmingham.

The Tamblings used to pay £109 a month in gas bills. This has now been reduced to £20. The ground source heat pump has an internet dial up system which sends a message to the maintenance team who will be sent over within an hour to fix any problems that may occur.

Cllr John Lines, cabinet member for housing at Birmingham City Council said: “We are always exploring ways to help the environment and this was a one-off installation which explored the benefits of the ground source heat pump. We are committed to green initiatives in Birmingham and is certainly something my officers will explore further for our other properties.

“I’m delighted by the pilot’s success and we have a very happy tenant who has been pleased by the money he’s saved, as well as the structural and decent homes work improvements we carried out.”

Mr Tamblin added: “The hot water used to trickle out of the taps and take a long time to heat up, this caused a nuisance when we wanted to bath the children. Now we can run a bath in half the time and access a constant supply of hot water. We are amazed at the difference.

"This time last year we were sat in a freezing cold house, this year we will be nice and warm. We want to thank the Council and Thomas Vale Construction for installing the Ground Source heat Pump.”