The free seminar aptly named ‘RetroFiT Realities’, held by SYHA’s LiveGreen team, was attended by a range of eco-champions, senior managers and board-members from housing associations, councils and other housing and sustainability bodies from across the North of England.
The seminar focus was to share the learning and experience gained from SYHA’s ‘Power Roofs’ solar photovoltaic (PV) RetroFiT Project. Presentations from the LiveGreen team concerned the Feed in Tariff (FiT) for funding solar PV, the benefits of solar PV and methods for engaging and educating residents in energy efficiency and the future funding outlook for this agenda.
Helen Forman, Design & Standards Manager from the Homes and Communities Agency commented: ‘The SYHA project team’s commitment, enthusiasm and expertise really showed and I was pleased to see their experience being shared with others.’
SYHA are currently well on the way with ‘Power Roofs’, the venture is the UK’s largest solar housing project, helping over 500 households in South Yorkshire to go solar by 2012. With 120 homes already benefitting from solar, SYHA is on course to own more solar powered properties than any other organisation in the country. Solar electricity is being installed to help protect residents from energy price rises and to reduce fuel poverty.
The LiveGreen team have gained over 2 years of experience in retrofitting existing properties, the team have also shared their skills and knowledge with other organisations who are thinking of going solar – providing consultancy services for other housing associations, to support them with similar solar projects and other energy efficiency retrofit programmes.
If you would like futher information about Power Roofs or anything concerning SYHA and sustainability, contact the LiveGreen Team.
March 2011
