PROPERTY MAINTENANCE LTDBuilding Better Futures...

Renewable Energy SystemsBuilding Better Futures...

Residents move from fuelpoverty into affordablewarmth...

BriefWherry Housing’s brief went beyond replacement stora systems. The benefits of new Mitsubishi energy efficien pumps would be twofold: to reduce fuel costs for resid cement Wherry’s case for funding from Renewables Ea

Foster Property Maintenance (FPM) was able to install systems within a short time frame. Approved Ecodan inwith experience of working in occupied premises and a a funding application on the association’s behalf, were reasons for Wherry contracting FPM.

DeliveryFPM replaced Wherry properties’ ageing heating syste modern, low maintenance versions over a two month p

Our operatives went on a Mitsubishi Ecodan installatio course in preparation, learning the necessary skills req specific task.

The result: residents moved from fuel poverty into afforwarmth.

ChallengesDelivering an installation programme that met the dead to secure funding from Renewables East required focus work.

FPM also involved residents from the outset to explain process and how the new systems work.

FPM summary “We assisted Wherry in achieving inclusion in the Rene scheme within the set time scale; delivering a successf for both the client and its residents.”

Jeremy Pallant, Renew

Supplying a housing association withelectricity wasn’t about coming up witha quick fix. They wanted sustainability and wedelivered…

BriefSuffolk Housing Society tasked Foster Renewable Energies (FRE) with installing solarPV systems to three sheltered housing schemes. But they wanted to be able morethan provision of reduced fuel costs for residents by generating electricity. The organisation wanted to benefit from the Feed-in tariff, which would enable themto see a good return on investment. They also hoped to reduce the carbon footprint ofeach sheltered scheme receiving the installation. And to help residents keep an eyeon how much electricity they use, they asked for us to install monitoring facilities.

DeliveryWhen Suffolk Housing Association opted for FRE to deliver solar PV systems, itwasn’t just because we came up with the most competitive proposal. We also wonthem over with an initial feasibility study; liaising with relevant planning departmentsand electricity suppliers to ensure we were giving them the most current information. Additionally, we were able to assist the association when it came to paperwork –dealing with the necessary administration to claim the Feed-in tariff from electricitysuppliers.

ChallengesOne of the initial difficulties we faced was with the electricity supply itself. Wemanaged to resolve this, carrying out each installation promptly. Being able to quicklyget back on track was largely thanks to FRE’s skilled team – all works were carried outby expert operatives who we have trained specifically to install Solar PV systems.FRE always resolves to cause as little disturbance as possible; this was equallyapplicable to this contract. James West, Contract Manager, explains: “We tookspecial care to make sure that necessary power shut downs were carried out earlymorning, to keep disruption to residents and scheme managers to a minimum.”

FRE summary“We were pleased to acquire this contract from Suffolk Housing. They first consultedin September 2011 about the feasibility and practicality of such a scheme and how itcould benefit the Society and its residents. So to eventually be chosen was a realwin.”

Jeremy Pallant, Renewables Manager

Client Quotation:“We wanted to fit PV to the roofs on sheltered housing scheme roofs to help reduceour environmental impact, reduce residents charges and use the benefit from theFeed-in tariff for any future renewable projects amongst the remainder of the society’shousing stock. We achieved this using FRE who assisted us from the start to thecompletion of the project”

Justin O’Connor, Technical Services Manager, Suffolk Housing Society

Value ........................................................£60,000Contract type..................Competitive tenderDuration ..............................June to July 2012

Scope of work10 kWp solar PV systems to three shelteredschemes; Trafalgar House, Ipswich (46flats), Fornham House, Ipswich (37 flats)and St Marys Close, Mildenhall (43 flats)

Suffolk Housing Society Wherry Housing Association

Value ....................................................£Contract type ..............Framew

Commenced ..................................M Duration..........................................T

Scope of workInstallation of 20 energy efficie systems

Building Better Futures...Renewable Energy Systems

Supplying a busy property maintenancecompany with Solar PV Systems presentedchallenges for Foster Renewable Energies. The team’sexpertise enabled them to reach a rewarding endresult…

BriefAs a company that cares about sustainable issues, Foster Property Maintenance Limited(FPM) was keen to find effective ways to reduce the carbon footprint at their headquarters. Aswell as improving their environmental impact, there was also a straightforward economicalneed to reduce electricity costs for FPM’s business unit occupiers. It was important to the business ethos that each unit should lower its carbon emissions, tomake Foster Business Park as environmentally friendly as possible.

DeliveryFPM decided that Foster Renewable Energies (FRE) would provide the most attractivesolution for their business. They offered the resources and ability to gain permissions andapprovals needed for the swift go-ahead of the scheme.

FRE was also able to assist the client when it came to completing the requisite paperwork.The works were undertaken with the proviso that FRE dealt with all necessary local authorityplanning permissions, carrying out as much of the administration process as possible. Thisenabled FPM to benefit from a Feed-in tariff from electricity suppliers. FRE’s expert operativesthen fitted Solar PV systems in the units.

The end result was a perfect fit with FPM’s environmental outlook – a reduction in electricitycosts contributing to its target of achieving carbon neutral periods at certain times of the year.

ChallengesEvery job has its complications and with this particular task FRE was concerned aboutobtaining planning permission from the relevant authority in time to complete the work.Thankfully, the environmental benefits of the scheme gave it the necessary weight for this tobe granted. The team had to work quickly, without compromising on quality, to ensure that the project wascomplete prior to the Feed-in Tariff deadline. They also adhered to FRE’s commitment tomanaging operations with minimal disruption to business park users and visitors.

FRE summary“We were pleased to undertake this work on behalf of one of our sister companies to reduceelectricity bills, carbon emissions and provide a ‘greener’ working environment.”

Jeremy Pallant, Renewables Manager

“Getting all of the project completed on time and on budget proved challenging, particularlyas the deadline approached, but with a robust supply chain and a good team of operatives,we managed to hit the target.”

James West, Contracts Manager

Customer satisfaction“Formed as a logical extension to our ownservices, we had every confidence that FREwould deliver. They didn’t disappoint – thesystems installed provide the perfect supportfor our company commitment to cuttingcarbon emissions.”

John Foster, Chief Executive, Foster PropertyMaintenance Ltd

age heating nt heat

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the delivery

ewables East ful project

wables Manager

Foster Property Maintenance Limited

........£183,000 work Contract

with funding..March 2012..Two months

nt heating

Value ......................................................£300,000Contract type ................................NegotiationDuration ....................................4 months from

inception to completion

Scope of workEight solar PV systems to business units inBoleness Road, Wisbech

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE LTD

Renewable Energy SystemsBuilding Better Futures...

When Cotman Housing Association Place

s for People wanted a solution

to help bring residents out of fuel prope

rty, Foster Renewable Energies

(FRE) rose to the challenge…

Brief‘Fuel poverty’ describes hous

eholds where more than 10% of net income is used to pay

for heat, light and power. With rapidly rising energy,

more and more UK households are facing fuel poverty. To

avoid putting residents in this plight, Cotman Housing Asso

ciation (Places for

People) asked FRE to suggest alternative methods of prod

ucing heat, light and power.

Delivery

Jeremy Pallant, Renewables Manager of FRE, set about fi

nding a solution. He started with a series of thorough surve

ys to assess current

heating systems. This included speaking to residents to ge

t a real picture of their problems.

As a result of our recommendations, Cotman Housing Asso

ciation (Places for People) decided to replace the heating s

ystems on a total of 20

properties. They asked us to install air source heat pumps

(ASHPs) combined with solar thermal panels. By choosing

Mitsubishi Ecodan

units the ASHP installations qualified for funding from Rene

wables East, with some properties benefitting from grants

of £1,200.

We helped with the funding process – making claims of up

to £1,200 per property. When it came to installing systems

we showed residents a

plan of the work that would take place and did our best to

carry it out with minimal disruption.

Challenges

While properties are well maintained, built to a high standa

rd and have good thermal efficiency, Jeremy found that the

re were some

measures that could be taken to improve quality further. So

me existing systems were difficult to control and expensiv

e to run, and residents

reported problems with condensation-related mould grow

th and damp.

Research pointed to replacing existing heating systems w

ith an ASHP. Accommodation allowed ample space for the

external unit and a

good-sized airing cupboard to for the hot water cylinder. A

SHPs deliver constant levels of heating and provide lower

fuel costs, which should

help residents. Combined with solar thermal panels, this w

ill reduce fuel costs further and supply ample quantities of

hot water.

FPM summary

“Faced with the challenge of replacing obsolete heating sy

stems and tackling fuel poverty, Residents were consulted

on the impact of their

heating systems. A proposed solution was developed for t

he client to implement renewable energy systems that red

uce lower fuel costs,

which resulted in the residents being lifted out of fuel pove

rty. The project illustrates the benefits of integrating the str

engths of both

companies FPM and FRE to ensure the best results are de

livered to clients.” Jeremy Pallant, Renewables Manager, Foster Renewable Energies (FRE)

Customer satisfaction

From the initial project feasibility appraisal, FRE has worke

d collaboratively with my team, securing partial grant fundin

g for the homes

occupied by residents who were experiencing fuel poverty

. The speed of installation has meant that residents have b

enefited from more

efficient and cost effective heating to their homes.'' Nigel Gardiner, Property Services Manager for Cotman Housing Association

Benefits and results

Residents immediately felt the benefits of having renewab

le energy systems installed with lower fuel costs. This resu

lted in the residents

being lifted out of fuel poverty. The project illustrates the b

enefits of integrating the strengths of both companies FPM

and FRE to make sure

premier results are delivered to clients.

Resident Quote

“Prior to Fosters removing my electric radiators I was spen

ding £12-£14 per day on electricity. Since my new Air Sour

ce Heat Pump was

installed I spend £2.50 per day – even before my Solar The

rmal has been fitted!”Mrs. Howe, Resident

t. 01945 586999 f. 01945 586990www.fpm-ltd.co.uk enquires@fpm-ltd.co.uk

Unit 1, Foster Business Park, 79 Boleness Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 2XQ

Cotman Housing Association (Places for P

eople)

Value ......................................................£280,000

Contract type ................Framework Contract

Duration ................January to February 201

2

Scope of work

Design and replacement of heating system

s

on 20 properties