Social housing: net zero progress report - quarter 2 2024

Project Title: Communal Ground Source Heat Pump - Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund

Project Organisation: Cairn Housing

Technology Type(s): Double Glazing, Upgraded Doors and Solar PV

Location(s): Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross Council

Grant Value: £524,916

Completion Date: March 2024

Project Headline: Fabric First and microgeneration to 35 homes in Blairgowrie

Project Description:

The project aimed to provide clean heating, microgeneration and fabric first measures to 35 properties in Blarigowrie, Perth and Kinross. There were a mix of property archetypes in this project; 28 one bed flats, 4 one bed mid terrace bungalows, 2 one bed end terrace bungalows and 1 three bed semi-detached house.

The proposed technologies included a communal GSHP to provide clean heating, and double glazing and new external doors to provide energy savings measures, to all 35 properties. Additionally, solar PV were installed to provide microgeneration to the 6 bungalows.

There were some issues with the feasibility for the GSHP that were not discovered until after the project started, so it did not go ahead. However the fabric first measures and microgeneration were installed, which provided tenants with improved thermal comfort and a reduction of fuel bills.

Cairn Housing Association subsequently withdrew the clean heating element from the project, with the intention to come forward again at a future checkpoint with a feasible plan for providing these homes with clean heating.