subject: Eco House In South Tyneside Opens Its Doors To The Public [print this page] The owners of a recently completed eco-house have recently opened its doors to the public to showcase its two brand new revolutionary, renewable heating systems.
In the small town of Hebburn, the award winning 'Showhouse' on Lukes Lane Estate is fitted with an aur sourced heat pump and a solar water heating system. South Tyneside homes has decided that this will be the first of 60 in the area to receive such systems as part of the National Energy Action award scheme which have the potential to reduce energy bills by up to 30%.
The air-sourced heat pump draws heat from the air outside, raises the temperature of the air and then redistributes it to radiators around the house. It is because it's powered by electricity that it helps to reduce gas bills and CO2 emissions.
The house's water supply is heated by solar panels on the roof which collect heat from the sun and uses it to heat water which is then stored in a hot water container. When solar heating is unavailable or hotter water is required, a standard boiler or immersion heater is used in place or to assist. The solar panel heating system provides about a third of the house's hot water. Also, to increase heat retention, new double-glazing has been installed to replace the old single glazed windows and improvements have been made to the loft & cavity wall insulations.
The charity, National Energy Action, recognised this new scheme as the best green project in the North East of England and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband is set to present the award to members of the South Tyneside Homes Development Team.
South Tyneside Homes have been managing council houses from the area since it took over from the council in 2006 and currently manages some 19 000 homes.
