Residents to benefit from solar power
26 July 2010
Elderly residents in north Manchester are to use green energy, with solar panels put on the side of their housing block.
Manchester City Council has teamed up with Northwards Housing and contractors Wates Living Space to install the panels on Whitebeck Court Extra Care Scheme in Charlestown.
Tenants moving into the 91 flats in the newly refurbished block will use renewable power generated by the panels for their lighting and electrical use in the block's communal areas.
The block will be connected to an existing district heating scheme which already serves the neighbouring tower blocks. Meanwhile, a new day centre built alongside the block will have a grass roof.
The solar panels, which are visible on the outside of the block, will contribute towards Manchester reaching its target of a 41 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, as set out in the city's climate change action plan, entitled Manchester: A Certain Future.
The panels were funded by the City Council's Carbon Innovation Fund, which was set up to help finance carbon reduction projects across Manchester.
Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, Councillor Nigel Murphy said: "This scheme will demonstrate on a large scale how renewable energy can be a part of our day-to-day lives and reduce our carbon emissions.
"This is at the heart of our climate change action plan, Manchester; A Certain Future. The City Council and Northwards Housing are committed to promoting new low-carbon technologies in Manchester, and I hope many other innovative projects will follow."
Robin Lawler, Chief Executive of Northwards Housing said: "Solar panels have been crucial in helping us to ensure that our homes are more energy efficient.
"Panels installed a few years ago on the roofs of 10 of our multi-storey blocks have already helped us save over 42 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year, so we're very happy that the future residents of Whitebeck Court will get to benefit from this fantastic technology."
Residents who want to find out more about Manchester's climate change action plan and how they can get involved can visit: www.manchesterclimate.com.
For more Manchester City Council information visit www.manchester.gov.uk
