Sheltered housing in Lincoln benefits from Solar Panels

Set to benefit from the addition of solar energy following the completion of a project to install solar panels to accommodation in the city are sheltered housing properties in Lincoln. Carried out by Kier, on behalf of City of Lincoln Council, the project has improved two sheltered housing facilities as well as helping them make a contribution to renewable energy generation.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed to Broomhill, Lenton Green and Tom Ward Court. As well as bringing down the City of Lincoln’s carbon footprint, the electricity generated will provide some free power for the buildings, and the council will benefit from the national Feed in Tariff scheme, which pays a set rate per unit of electricity generated and an additional rate for any exported back to the national grid.

Kier regional managing director for maintenance, Simon Bullen, said: “Solar power will be increasingly important over the coming years in helping to reduce household energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and eliminate fuel poverty. This project will provide benefits to so many of our local residents while bringing advantages to the environment at the same time. At Kier, we strive to do everything we can to reduce the impact our work has on the environment.”

Councillor Fay Smith, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Public Protection at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “Thanks to this project, not only will the city’s carbon footprint be reduced, but the council will also benefit from reduced fuel bills in these communal areas of our sheltered housing schemes. We are proud to take on this project, which will make a positive impact on the reduction of fuel consumption in Lincoln.”

Kier has also installed thousands of solar panels to the homes of council tenants across the country including in Stoke-on-Trent, Harlow, Nottingham and North Tyneside, and these will be maintained under contract by Kier for the next 25 years.

Next month, Kier will begin phase two of exterior decoration and balcony repairs on high rise properties in the city using innovative mast-climbing platforms which can be set to the correct level so tradesmen can work at a comfortable height without having to bend or stretch.