Inspace gear up for solar future in house building

Inspace has signed up Viridian Solar as its exclusive provider of solar technology, which will become a key factor in meeting tougher future sustainable targets under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Inspace gearing up for a solar future in house building Social housing specialist Inspace is taking solar heating technology into mainstream house building this year by equipping 360 new houses with the technology, nearly a quarter of all homes it will build in 2008.

The company has signed up Viridian Solar and the agreement to install solar technology into a large portion of homes built in 2008 will save an estimated 430,000 kilowatts of energy a year, equivalent to an annual reduction of 83 tonnes of carbon, as well as cutting yearly household heating bills by up to GBP100 per home.

Most houses built each year by Inspace are for registered social landlords and this agreement marks the arrival of solar technology as a mainstream renewable energy approach.

The discreet solar panels are roof integrated, meaning they replace tiles instead of sitting over them and also sit lower in the roof.

When operational, the panels allow 50 per cent of a home's annual hot water demands to be met by solar energy, and during summer they will provide 100 per cent of a home's hot water needs via renewable energy.

Alan Cochrane, head of energy and environment at Inspace, says, "Traditionally, solar technology to provide heating has been installed retrospectively by an owner after a house is built or occasionally on new developments".

"This is a major step by Inspace towards introducing as standard the use of solar energy for all homes it builds where practical".

Inspace chose Viridian Solar as its partner based on the quality of its product range, with Viridian's Clearline range of solar panels recently awarded the first ever BBA certification for a renewable energy technology.

It also has NHBC approval and can be used equally for houses and medium rise flats.

Early projects where Inspace and Viridian will work together include the installation of 210 solar panels to a housing development near Milton Keynes, plus a development of 62 flats and houses in Staines.

Stuart Elmes, CEO of Viridian said: "Our relationship spans back right to the inception of the project to develop the Clearline solar panel".

"As a result of listening to the advice of Inspace and other industry experts, the Clearline solar panel has become something that can be introduced on large-scale housing projects.

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