Wates go green with solar panel open days

24 October, 2011

Affordable housing contractor, Wates Living Space is inviting Nottingham’s council tenants to a series of open days during Energy Saving Week - 24th to 28th October.

The events, held by Wates Living Space and Nottingham City Homes, are designed to encourage residents to ‘go green’.

All visitors will get free entry into a prize draw to win energy saving devices for their home, have a solar panel demonstration and get the chance to recycle an old plastic carrier bag for a Wates cotton shopping bag (one per household).

The events will take place on:

• Monday 24th October, 9am to 1pm at The Chase Community Centre, St. Ann’s, NG3 4EZ
• Tuesday 25th October, 10am to 2pm at Queens Walk Community Centre, The Meadows, NG2 2DF
• Wednesday 26th October, 1.30pm to 5.30pm at the City Hospital Leisure Centre, Sherwood, NG5 1PB

Visitors will get the chance to see photovoltaic solar panels (PVs) up close, that are due to be installed on residents’ homes find out more on how they work and the savings tenants could make on their energy bills.

Experts from Wates will be on hand, including Project Manager Anthony Chapman, Contract Administrator, Annette Willoughby and Tenant Liaison Officer, Lisa Wilkinson, to answer questions and give advice.    

Wates was recently awarded a £2.5 million contract to fit solar photovoltaic panels to 487 council homes across the city. The project will begin in mid-November and end in March 2012.

The panels will save each household between £80 to £200 per year (depending on property and usage), and will be installed with minimal disruption to residents.

Joanne Jamieson, Business Unit Director for Wates Living Space East Region, commented: “As a company with a strong, green ethic, we’re excited to work on such an innovative project. The real aim of these open days is to connect with residents in the area and educate them in environmentally friendly ways to create and save energy.”

Steve Hale, Assistant Director for Asset Management at Nottingham City Homes, said: “Energy Saving Week is the perfect opportunity to talk to our tenants about the work we are doing across the city, and how it can make a real difference to their lives.

“Some of our estates are in high areas of deprivation and fuel poverty is an increasing problem. Our decent homes programme is already making properties more energy efficient and reducing heating bills with ‘A’ rated double glazing, ‘A’ rated boilers and thermal insulation,

“Installing photovoltaic panels will help to reduce electricity bills too, while generating excess power, which we will sell back to energy suppliers. The money we generate can be used for future housing stock investment.”

Nottingham City Homes is working in partnership with Kier, FHM and Wates Living Space to install PV panels on 1,450 homes across Nottingham.

To view this press release as a pdf please click here

Categories: refurbishment, affordable housing, events, midlands

Tags: Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham Council, photovoltaics