A2 Dominion’s Retrofit Works – JESSICA London Green Fund
A2 Dominion received through THFC £4million in funding from the JESSICA London Green Fund, as well as a £50million loan from EIB. The £4million was used to deliver energy efficiency measures across homes in 32 London boroughs in the period from April 2013 to December 2015.
In that time there were a number of changes to Government policy on energy efficiency and social housing which entailed some revision of the initial projects and value engineering required to maximise the benefits for residents. The projects were revised and agreed with THFC.
The retrofit works fell under seven projects:
- Boiler replacements and heating controls
- Replacement of electric storage heaters with 20 air source heat pumps
- Energy improvements to 33 flats at Riverside close including double glazing and flat roof and cavity wall insulation
- Area based whole house energy retrofit
- Boiler replacements and installation of external wall and loft insulation in 54 flats at St Winifred’s
- Installation of external wall insulation in 24 electrically heated flats at Petts Wood
- LED replacement of existing communal lighting in a number of estates
Due to a collapse in external funding there was a 90% reduction in delivery on project 4, then substituted by the completion of project 7.
A total of 1,383 energy efficiency measures were installed, benefitting over 1,100 households. The improvements collectively saved an estimated £121,000 in fuel bills, a per household per year saving of approximately £110 (or 10%). The THFC funding also enabled A2 Dominion to attract a further £220,000 of eternal funding, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 377 tonnes per annum.
Project 2 allowed the use of air source heat pumps in a multi-occupied property to be demonstrated and a better understanding of air source heat pump performance to be gained. Feedback from residents has been positive, with one resident reporting a 50% reduction in energy consumption verified through energy bills. Two other housing associations visited the site as part of their research into expanding the use of air source heat pumps.
Project 3 at Riverside Close accounted for the funding only in the A2 Dominion owned flats, however a further 51 leasehold flats indirectly benefitted from the retrofit works, as the ECO funding the project attracted allowed the installation of cavity wall insulation in these 51 flats at no cost to the leaseholders.
The property at St Winifred’s suffered from significant mould and damp issues, leading to high levels of complaints by residents. The winter following the installation of the external wall insulation saw no issues reported.
The replacement of communal lighting with LED has led to considerable energy cost savings for A2 Dominion. Residents have reported improved lighting conditions and fewer luminaire failures, saving on maintenance costs and increasing resident satisfaction.