An eco-home in South Tyneside has opened its doors to all in order to display its two pioneering, renewable green heating systems to the public.

The award-winning ‘Show house’ on Lukes Lane Estate in the small town of Hebburn is fitted with a solar water heating system and an air-sourced heat pump.

The home is the first of 60 in the area that have been chosen by South Tyneside homes to receive such systems as part of the National Energy Action award scheme. These new systems can reduce energy bills by up to 30%.

The air-sourced heat pump is powered by electricity so helps reduce gas bills and CO2 emissions. The pump draws heat from the air outside then raises the temperature of it and redistributes it to radiators around the house.

The home’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 National Energy Action award scheme’s plans were recognised by the charity, National Energy Action, as the best green project in the North East. Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband is also set to award members from the South Tyneside Homes Development Team on Tuesday.

South Tyneside Homes took responsibility for managing council houses in the area from the council in 2006 and currently manage around 19,000 homes.

Author:  Thomas Davies

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