North Kesteven District Council has installed more than 350 Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pumps in its properties as part of a programme to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
The council began working with heating contractor Equans UK on the project in August 2023, replacing ageing storage radiators, solid fuel and oil-fired heating systems across more than 300 properties. Some homes had Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings as low as F.
Although funding required the properties to reach at least an EPC C rating, the council opted to target a B rating. The upgrades combine Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pumps with sensoCOMFORT controls, solar PV and 2.4kW battery storage. Some properties have also received loft and cavity wall insulation.
Each property was assessed individually before work began, allowing the heating system and other energy efficiency measures to be tailored to the building and residents. Equans installation teams typically completed each upgrade within two days, allowing residents to remain in their homes throughout the work.
The existing heating systems were removed and replaced with the heat pump systems, with volumisers used instead of buffer tanks to simplify the retrofit process.
According to the project team, most upgraded properties now achieve an EPC B rating. Residents have also reported lower energy costs, with some homes using as little as 70 pence of energy per day. Resident satisfaction has reached an average of 4.9 out of five.
Adam Evans, mechanical project manager at Equans UK, comments: “The simplicity and reliability of the Vaillant aroTHERM plus heat pump made it particularly well suited to a large-scale retrofit programme like this, enabling our teams to complete installations quickly while maintaining high standards, and minimising disruption for residents.”
Resident engagement has also formed part of the programme, with open days, inductions and one-to-one consultations used to explain the new systems and address concerns.
A further 300 – 400 properties are expected to be upgraded over the next few years, with Equans also delivering similar work for other housing authorities and associations in the East Midlands, including the City of Lincoln Council.
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