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Little Houghton, near Barnsley, is an Off-The-Gas-Grid community and was chosen as part of a pilot scheme for the Dearne Valley Eco Vision initiative which aims to alleviate fuel poverty by offering ‘Affordable Warmth’ to customers who were paying expensive fuel bills for LPG and Oil central heating.

From January to April 2011, Solarwall an energy and insulation company based in Clifton, York, worked in conjunction with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to employ a ‘Whole House Approach’ aimed at providing energy saving measures to the properties in the village. This meant starting with the basics in the form of cavity wall and loft insulation and then moving on to renewable technology. In all 11 customers had their cavity walls or lofts (or both) insulated and 9 had Solar Thermal Systems installed.

The aims of the initiative were to improve the SAP ratings of the houses, to improve the thermal comfort for the residents and to reduce their fuel bills, saving them energy and money. Typically loft and cavity wall insulation will save the homeowner approximately £200 per year.

Tim Weeks, Senior Private Sector Project Officer at Barnsley Council, the instigator of the scheme, said ‘The plan was a successful partnership between Barnsley Council and Solarwall for the benefit of the residents.’

As a direct result of the insulation and renewable measures the residents will not only save money on heating bills, but will also benefit from government monies in the form of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Mr Foster, one of the villagers, had loft insulation and a Solar Thermal System installed by Solarwall and paid for by Barnsley Council and was so pleased with the work done that he requested Solarwall back to fit a Solar Photovoltaic System.

‘I’m very happy with the measures I’ve had installed. I’ve made major savings already; this recent spell of warm weather has meant that all of my hot water has been supplied by my solar panels.’

Based on what he’s saved so far, Mr Foster estimates he will reduce his oil bill by £1500 this year, and his PV system will supply a portion of free electricity as well as approximately £1000 each year from the government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme (FiTs).

Find out more about the Feed-in-Tariff and other renewable sources of energy at www.solarwall.co.uk

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