A solar panel project, which has helped to reduce energy usage in 170 Huddersfield homes is nearing completion.
The project, funded jointly by Yorkshire Housing and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, began last year in Quarry Road, Huddersfield and means customers now have access to solar energy at their homes, supplementing their electricity supply from the grid.
Solar panels capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity to use in the home. Installing solar panels allows our customers to use renewable and low carbon electricity.
With the wet winter experienced in 2023/24, the gain from solar panels might not be expected to have been significant. But customers who had panels fitted last year have already made savings on their bills – with an 8-10 percent decrease in energy use.
The retrofitting of panels was rolled out in November 2023 after surveys and scaffolding were undertaken. Much of the wiring fitted to enable to solar panels to hook up to each home, was done on the external part of the building, to minimise disruption to customers.
John Woodhead, a Yorkshire Housing customer, said: “The installation was great – the workers were really friendly and gave plenty of warning for when the electricity needed to be turned off. I know some of my neighbours needed appointments after 5pm due to work requirements, and the trades people were happy to work with us all to make sure the work got done around us.”
“Having a work cabin on site was appreciated as it meant that we could go and talk about any concerns we had directly with the contractor. The constant communication made the whole process much better for everyone involved.”
We asked John what impact the upgrades have had on his life so far. He said: “It’s definitely saving me money; my predicted energy bill from my supplier has gone from about £530 per year to £370 per year, and it’s great to know that this is helping the environment too!”
Yorkshire Housing remains committed to improving the energy efficiency of its least efficient homes by 2030, making sure every home achieves an energy performance rating of SAP Band C (SAP is the government approved system for assessing the energy rating for new homes).
As part of the five-year asset management strategy, £18 million will be spent on energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating solutions.