Householders in Richmondshire are to benefit from warmer homes following the installation of an air source heat pump in a Scorton home.

The project, which aims to bring renewable heating systems and insulation measures into whole communities, will be lead by Community Energy Solutions (CES) in partnership with Richmondshire District Council (RDC) and Vale & Dale Home Improvement Agency.

The council has given the project its seal of approval after CES arranged a demonstration installation for a council house in Scorton, thus enabling the partnership to move into selected wards within Richmondshire.

Scorton resident, Mrs Duncan said:

“I have lived with only storage heating for longer than I can remember and the air source heat pump is a welcome relief. The whole process has been explained to me by CES and I knew exactly what to expect every step of the way. The installation of the heating system was quick and easy, with little mess or inconvenience. I am looking forward to a warmer and cheaper winter!”

CES and RDC will be targeting private housing in Council Tax bands A and B starting in the villages of Hawes in Wensleydale and Reeth in Swaledale, to fit the environmentally friendly air source heat pumps. Up until now, these communities have had to rely on expensive and impractical heating sources such as storage heating, oil, bottled gas and solid fuel to heat their homes and water.

CES Project Manager, Tom Shepherd said:

“This new partnership with Richmondshire District Council follows several similar projects throughout Yorkshire and Humberside which have been extremely successful. For instance, over 60 homes have been updated with fully funded or heavily subsidised new heating systems in a project with East Riding of Yorkshire Council. This is the first time we have worked in Richmondshire, and if the project is successful, we hope that it will extend to other areas in the future.

“We are sending leaflets to selected privately owned and rented households in Hawes and Reeth which explain how we work and what financial support is available. Many residents are eligible to receive funding for the air source heat pump and its installation.”

CES will be providing funding towards air source heat pumps, as the communities lie so far from the gas mains meaning that extending the gas supply into their homes is not a viable option. As well as being renewable and much more environmentally friendly than the current heating sources in these wards, the heat pumps are also cheaper to run.

Councillor Peter Wood, spokesperson for housing at Richmondshire District Council was on site to see the final stages of CES’s pump installation in Scorton. He  said:

“We are working with CES as part of our commitment to reduce fuel poverty in the region. By updating heating systems, not only will the scheme create more energy efficient homes, but it will also substantially decrease their energy bills. With many residents being eligible for full funding for the heat pump and its installation, it seems like an opportunity too good miss.”