The Government’s Secretary of State for the Environment has visited Huddersfield to visit an innovative renewable energy scheme.

Community Energy Solutions (CES), working in partnership with Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH), recently installed 60 state-of-the-art air source heat pumps (ASHPs) into homes in Caldercliffe and the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs accompanied local MP Barry Sheerman on a visit to meet residents who are now benefitting from the new heating systems.

All of the homes, which are off the gas network, previously had to rely on outdated electric storage heaters. CES is a non-profit-distributing organisation, funded by Yorkshire Forward and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), which helps those off the gas network and living in fuel poverty gain access to cleaner, cheaper and greener fuel sources. Using heat pumps can help reduce domestic heating energy needs by up to 70% and can help cool homes in summer.