British Gas to Launch Eco-Tech Low Bill Homes
British Gas is set to supercharge sustainable living across the UK with the launch of Low Carbon Homes – a ground-breaking pilot 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. These items will be integrated into Hive’s award-winning app, providing customers with one-stop visibility and control of their energy usage.
Trial participants will be assisted in optimising the technology
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 British Gas energy manager to help them optimise the technology and keep bills as low as possible, while still meeting their desired comfort levels.
Each home will be fitted with a Hive hub, which connects to the WIFI network and acts as the home’s operating system, integrating all the sustainable technology. The customers energy and heat schedules and budget will be optimised by the Hive Hub for further savings.
When the customer connects to Hive’s app they will be able to control and maximise efficiency by setting schedules and spending budgets and allowing the Hub to help them reduce their bills.
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.
Catherine O’Kelly, Managing Director at British Gas Energy, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Strata to create a new homes proposition that is not only sustainable, but scalable.
“Through this partnership, we are empowering homeowners with the latest green technology and providing them with more control and transparency over their energy usage.
“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.”
Lee Wilson, Head of Product and Design at Strata, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with British Gas to bring more energy efficient homes to market.
“This collaboration will allow us to gather necessary data and learnings, from initial design and installation of product, through to live performance records in occupied homes so we can shape and educate what energy usage, and running costs look like for customers in our future homes.
“We’re incredibly excited to see the data that comes back from this trial and continue to make more carbon and energy efficiencies for our customers.”
Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh said: “This fantastic partnership will deliver the low-carbon, energy-saving homes of the future, protecting households from high energy bills and delivering warmer homes.
“It fits with our Warm Homes Plan, which will deliver millions of home improvements by installing low-carbon heating – such as heat pumps – as we go further and faster to upgrade homes across the UK.”
Iain Bevan, New Business Director – Renewable Heating at Daikin, said: “Daikin are delighted to be working with Strata Homes and British Gas on this important scheme.
“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 Stata’s Breathe site.”
