With the aim of promoting sustainable living across the UK, British Gas has announced the launch of Low Carbon Homes – a pilot scheme launched in partnership with Strata and heat pump manufacturer, Daikin.
In anticipation of The Future Homes Standard, customers will move into new build homes which have been fitted with a full range of the latest low-carbon technology at no extra cost to the housebuilder or owner. The homes will be equipped with a 6-8 kWh Daikin air source heat pump, 4 kWh solar panels, 5 kWh battery storage, Hive electric vehicle charger and thermostat. All these items will be integrated into the Hive app, providing customers with one-stop visibility and control of their energy usage.
The first trial phase will launch at a Strata’s ‘Breathe’ development site in Kiveton, Rotherham. As a thank you for participating in the pilot, British Gas is giving homeowners access to a fixed rate tailored British Gas tariff. Participants in the trial will also have access to a dedicated energy manager to help them optimise the technology and keep bills as low as possible, while still meeting their desired comfort levels.
Strata currently builds more than 700 homes a year and will work together with British Gas and Daikin to identify more locations to roll out the offering following the initial launch.
“Through this partnership, we are empowering homeowners with the latest green technology and providing them with more control and transparency over their energy usage,” says Catherine O’Kelly, MD at British Gas Energy. “Our proposition will allow new build development sites to equip their properties with the very best low-carbon technology, meet new legislative requirements and deliver energy-efficient homes that are fit for the future. This is all part of our ambition to energise a greener, fairer future.”
Iain Bevan, new business director – renewable heating at Daikin, adds: “Connecting air source heat pumps to technology platforms like Hive is a key part of the UK’s decarbonisation journey, opening up the potential for significant benefit to homeowners and housing developers alike. The team at Daikin look forward to supporting the ongoing development of the customer experience at Strata’s Breathe site.”
