Leeds to invest in green tech for council homes

Leeds City Council has announced a £24m programme to help cut tenants’ energy bills.

The local authority has gone out to tender for a provider to design, develop and deliver six new district heating networks that will reduce carbon emissions, help residents save money and improve the wellbeing and comfort of those living in council properties.

The council is exploring a range of green technologies to power the six new networks, including the potential use of ground and air source heat pumps or biomass systems, to provide residents with more sustainable and affordable heat.

The £24m investment follows the success of Leeds’ first district heating network, which will provide low carbon waste-powered heat to 1,983 homes by the end of 2020.

In Leeds, around a quarter of the city’s carbon emissions come from the energy used to provide heat and hot water in our homes.

By connecting residents in 1,485 properties to greener technologies, the programme will save around 950 tonnes of greenhouse gases every year while also helping tenants save a typical 10% on their energy bills.

The council’s director of resources and housing, Neil Evans said: ‘As the largest social housing provider in West Yorkshire, we know that council homes have a significant impact on the city’s carbon footprint and we take that responsibility seriously.

‘The average Leeds City Council property is already more energy efficient and cheaper to keep warm than its private sector counterpart and we will continue to invest in our buildings to help our tenants and reduce our environmental impact.

‘This major new investment in green technologies and district heating networks is a great example of that and builds upon actions that we are already taking to improve energy efficiency, such as retrofitting older council homes and requiring new build council homes to meet a minimum B rating,’ he added.

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