Learnings from a rural ground source heat pump retrofit project

This sort of project and varied property type isn’t new to Kensa. In Weobley, Herefordshire, Kensa worked with Stonewater Housing to retrofit 49 semi-rural social homes with ground source heat pumps. That project, and countless others like it, have produced vital learnings that ensure efficient delivery and successful outcomes for both the provider and the resident.

We’ll implement plenty of these learnings and considerations in Appledore and Charing. Here are some of the most important:

Early engagement and clear communication with residents

Resident engagement is always the most important element of any retrofit project. It’s crucial that residents understand not only what is happening but also why and how it’s going to benefit them, and it’s so important that this is done clearly and as early as possible.

In Ashford, multiple homes involved are heated using expensive night storage heaters. For these residents, the message is clear: the upgrade will improve comfort and bring down energy bills, potentially by as much as 50%.

Even for homes currently using gas boilers, the upgrade offers lasting improvements. The financial savings for these, however, may be smaller, so it becomes more important to explain the broader benefits: future-proofed systems with lower maintenance requirements, improved indoor air quality and a contribution to local and national climate targets.

Successful engagement hinges on using multiple channels to inform, engage and educate everyone affected, ensuring no one is left out. Letters, newsletters, drop-in sessions, coffee mornings and direct liaison are all steps that should be taken to ensure every resident is reached and engaged with in a way that works for them. 

Use site selection to build momentum

Choosing the right site is crucial when taking on an initial low-carbon retrofit project or installing a specific type of heating system for the first time. Ideally, the properties should present a clear case for upgrading, an opportunity to generate positive resident feedback and potential for a successful outcome.

Prioritising homes with older or costly heating systems makes sense, since they stand to gain the most from the upgrade and quickly show how impactful these changes can be. In these situations, a ground source heat pump system can be presented as a meaningful upgrade that addresses current challenges while supporting wider decarbonisation goals.

For Stonewater Housing, all 49 homes had costly, outdated electric systems replaced with ground source heat pumps. After the installation, residents reported warmer homes and significant energy bill savings. These outcomes helped make the case for further investment and to deliver similar projects across their portfolio.

Frame retrofit as a long-term investment

While there’s often a higher upfront investment, networked ground source systems are built to last, offering long-term savings, reliability and peace of mind for decades to come. They typically involve an initial higher capital outlay than a like-for-like boiler replacement. However, when the system’s operational lifespan is considered, against the backdrop of future policy, carbon pricing and energy costs, they offer a strong return on investment.

Landlords can effectively future-proof their stock by installing networked ground source heat pumps. The infrastructure involved in this system, a shared network of boreholes and underground pipework, has a lifespan of over 100 years and can support heat pumps well into the future, cutting the need for repeat disruption or other high-cost infrastructure works.

Landlords who plan to remove the gas supply entirely from their properties can experience these long-term savings. However, further support may be needed for residents, such as replacing gas cooking appliances with electric alternatives.

Build confidence across the organisation

An under-appreciated benefit of delivering a successful retrofit is how it changes perceptions within the landlord’s organisation. When residents report high satisfaction, energy savings and minimal disruption, internal confidence grows, converting the initially unsure to future advocates.

This cumulative effect can transform how organisations think about retrofit. What starts as a technically complex and unfamiliar project quickly becomes a proven model that can be repeated and scaled to meet wider objectives.

Inspiration for the future

Social housing has been a trailblazer for effective low-carbon heating and energy efficiency upgrades, at times showing the private housing sector how best to retrofit and at scale.

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund received a huge number of applications, and with the funding now allocated, thousands more social homes will receive these potentially life-changing upgrades over the coming years, resulting in some of the highest quality retrofit homes in the country. Ongoing projects like those in Appledore and Charing should provide inspiration for providers looking at their next retrofit challenge.

Stuart Gadsden, commercial director, Kensa