Major Kensa social housing retrofit project scoops Business Green award
- Social Housing
- 3 min read
Kensa’s multi-award-winning retrofit project for Thurrock Council, which saw Networked Heat Pumps installed in 
Chadwell St Mary's, Thurrock CouncilCase Study273 high-rise social housing flats, bagged another accolade by securing the Business Green Renewable Energy Project of the Year at the 2024 Business Green awards in London,
Part-funded by Wave 1 of the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) currently in operation as the 
Warm Homes: Social Housing FundFundingWarm Homes: Social Housing Fund, the flagship project, delivered by Kensa and Thurrock Council, saw ageing electric storage heaters across three tower blocks in Thurrock, Essex, replaced with highly efficient, low-carbon networked ground source heat pumps.
Since completion, the project has lowered residents’ energy bills by as much as 66%, lifting many out of fuel poverty and enabling them to heat their homes properly. Replacing electric storage heaters, which cost some residents thousands of pounds a year to run, with Kensa’s compact 
ShoeboxProductShoebox heat pumps is also expected to reduce carbon emissions by 70%.
Networked Heat Pumps consist of ground source heat pumps installed in individual properties, whether flats, terraced streets, or new-build homes, connected to a shared network of underground pipework. This provides each property with low-cost, renewable heating, hot water, and cooling.
Installing this solution in 273 Thurrock flats set a blueprint for using SHDF funding to replace inefficient heating in social housing with Networked Heat Pumps. From creating new green local jobs to providing the Council with a long-lasting renewable heating system, the project delivered multiple benefits across the community.
With £1.2bn available through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund this year social housing providers can apply for funding to make energy efficiency improvements in their properties, including replacing inefficient heating systems.
- Read the full project case study Chadwell St Mary's, Thurrock CouncilCase Studyhere.
Speaking about the heating system, Thurrock resident Diane Barr said:
The heat pump is much warmer, and the hot water is so fast compared to the old system. Plus it’s so cheap – I pay around £21 a week, and that’s with doing the washing, using the tumble-drier and dehumidifier. With the storage heaters, it cost around £70 a week, and I only used to have the heating on in three rooms, and the hot water ran out pretty quickly, so we couldn’t have a shower.
After receiving the award, Ieman Barmaki, Sustainability Director at Kensa, said:
It’s brilliant for this project to receive the Business Green Renewable Energy Project of the Year award. We’re incredibly proud of this installation; it’s made a huge improvement to people’s lives, it’s lowered energy bills and given residents a heating system they can afford to use.
Networked heat pumps present an ideal solution to decarbonise complex properties like high-rise tower blocks. We’ve delivered this renewable heating system to over 1,700 high-rise social housing flats, giving long-lasting benefits for the housing providers, the residents, the community and the environment.
