Solar PV developer, Lightsource is targeting the UK’s social housing sector after partnering with the Sustainable Homes Index For Tomorrow (SHIFT) initiative.
Lightsource has joined SHIFT, a programme managed by sustainability benchmarking service Sustainable Homes, to offer advice to social housing landlords on solar PV installations that can be used to tackle fuel poverty.
“We are excited to bring our expertise and support to the social housing sector. High bills put many families under undue pressure and we intend to make that a thing of the past,” Nick Boyle, chief executive at Lightsource, said.
“We are delighted to be working alongside SHIFT and believe that this partnership will serve as a valuable tool to unlocking the as yet untapped potential of rooftop solar installations, whilst helping to tackle the serious issue of fuel poverty in the UK,” he added.
Boyle said that while solar offered tenants more security over future electricity costs, changes to feed-in tariff rates had created uncertainty in the market.
“We want to help associations understand and take advantage of this opportunity to take pressure off their residents, address fuel poverty and create more sustainable living through localised electricity generation,” he added.
SHIFT works Sustainable Homes’ 65 member associations to help improve the energy efficiency of existing homes and is supported by the UK’s Homes and Communities Agency, the UK Green Building Council and WWF-UK.
Sustainable Homes said its collaboration with Lightsource would allow for more social housing landlords to offer better and more environmentally friendly solutions for landlords and Andrew Eagles, managing director at Sustainable Homes, said it was a “timely” partnership.
“Many landlords are considering how they can best meet these dual challenges and improve their homes with minimal risks. It is great to have Lightsource as a partner,” Eagles said.