Habinteg Housing Association has installed solar arrays on all 46 properties of the association’s tenants in Clerkes Way, Houghton Regis.
Andrew Selous MP, and Councillor Peter Williams, Deputy Mayor of Houghton Regis Town Council, visited the project to view the solar panels, installed to help households become more fuel efficient and overcome fuel poverty.
The solar scheme is designed to provide tenants with the opportunity of making significant savings on their energy bills, with all electricity generated from the arrays being fed equally between ground and first floor flats.
Habinteg Chief Executive, Paul Gamble, explained: “We got involved with Solar PV primarily to generate income allowing us to sustain a high quality service into the future, so we were determined to deliver as many panels to our tenants as possible. I am delighted that so many tenants in the Houghton Regis area will benefit from reduced energy bills as a result of the project, as we know that fuel poverty can be a particular problem for disabled people.”
Habinteg Housing Association is a leading provider of homes and services for disabled people; research has shown that a disproportionate number of disabled people are in fuel poverty. As such, Habinteg has turned to solar technology to help alleviate the burden of energy bills, fitting one third of its total housing stock (1,026 properties) with solar arrays.
Paddy Bannon, a Clarkes Way tenant, said: “I’m trying to take advantage of the electricity generated by using my electrical appliances during the day. It’s really bringing to life the idea of ‘making hay while the sun shines’. Habinteg should be congratulated on proactively introducing this scheme.”
Andrew Selous MP, said: “Habinteg’s commitment to energy efficiency for its tenants is admirable, as is such a high proportion of households in receipt of solar panels. This will make a huge difference to tenants, particularly disabled people.”