• Project name: Hafod Footprint: Ty Cwm's Decarbonisation Journey
• Lead organisation: Hafod Housing Association

Statement of support

Ty Cwm is an extra care scheme located in Merthyr Tydfil, which consists of 60 flats, across two ‘wings’ along with communal lounges, office spaces and a large daycentre. Each flat is self-contained, with their own kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and lounge. However, their electricity and heating supply is communal and paid for via the annual service charge.

As we are all aware the cost to heat a home has gone up considerably over the last few years and some residents find themselves choosing to ‘heat or eat’. This concerned the assets team and we wanted to look at ways we could assist with bring the cost down, while ensuring residents were still able to heat their home adequately.

The aim for this project was to reduce the carbon footprint of the large extra care scheme, by utilising partial Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) funding, alongside capital replacement in-house funding, whilst ultimately passing energy savings onto the residents. We will gather resident feedback on the process to help us evaluate the successes and identify any lesson learnt opportunities. Once the success of the scheme has been documented, we will explore the install for our other extra care facilities across the portfolio.

The installation included 108 solar panels to the roof, an inverter placed in a new fireproof cupboard, and 60 intelligent energy systems for each of the residents’ flats. These intelligent energy systems helped us, and the residents get a better understanding of their energy and heating consumption throughout the day.

Resident engagement was key to this project ensuring that all the residents of Ty Cwm had a good understanding of why the works were being completed, who the contractors were that were working in their homes and what benefit the works would bring to each of them individually. As our colleagues have already built a relationship with the residents, it was important we ensured they had a good understanding of the project, giving residents the option to ask questions outside of the arranged engagement sessions.

We are continuing to work with our colleagues and residents of Ty Cwm to reduce demand from the grid further, by upgrading the light fittings throughout the scheme along with further decarbonisation engagement via workshops with decarbonisation engagement officers to help assist changes of habits with the residents.

We will utilise our resident Connect enewsletter to update all of customers on the project outcomes to highlight what we are doing and to also alleviate some of the concerns with future projects. Having residents ‘lived in’ experience will be vital in ensuring we share the possibilities with all our customers, to support the drive to reduce our carbon footprint and explore energy savings for our customers.

Justine Williams, Hafod’s decarbonisation engagement officer, has said: “Working with the residents of Ty Cwm has been a journey. They had very little understanding of energy efficiency and decarbonisation when I first spoke to them, but through various methods of communication and increased awareness, we are now reducing the energy consumption at the scheme. The residents are very appreciative that we are trying to help them save money via their energy bills and are now asking what’s next!”

Outcomes and achievements

The main outcome was a drastic reduction on grid electricity, representing a large reduction in carbon footprint and usage savings that have been passed onto our residents. The installation was carried out in a way that ensures batteries are a possibility, once overall demand has been reduced via further works onsite such as low energy lighting etc.

Our performance estimates we will produce 33.546 MWh annually, and we are hoping to see a minimum of a 12 per cent saving in energy use, resulting in lower bills for the residents and the scheme overall.

Another key outcome was a new relationship with a local contractor Lectogic, who were outstanding in their ability to overcome unforeseen obstacles during the installation. Ensuring the project team and scheme manager were always informed on progress and were able to then update the residents.

Dalton Harris, scheme manager, commented: “We feel so lucky here at Ty Cwm to be the first Hafod extra care scheme to have decarbonisation works. The work carried out is starting to have an impact on my residents and their energy bills. I can’t wait to see what benefits it brings to the scheme over the winter months.”

• Project name: Caerphilly Council retrofit project with LivGreen
• Lead organisation: LivGreen
• Partner organisation: Caerphilly Council

Statement of support

LivGreen is proud to submit the Maesteg and Oaklands projects, delivered for Caerphilly County Borough Council, for this year’s sustainability in housing award. This project showcase how thoughtful retrofit solutions can dramatically enhance energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and improve residents’ quality of life. The Maesteg and Oaklands projects demonstrate the significant impact that sustainability-focused properties can have on vulnerable populations living in sheltered and O.A.P. (Older Adults Program) complexes.

Project overview

The Maesteg and Oaklands projects represent a comprehensive sustainability-driven retrofit, addressing the energy inefficiencies of two aging sheltered housing complexes. The total contract value was £4.6 million, and the work scope included re-roofing with Solar PV installations, external wall insulation (EWI), cavity wall insulation (CWI) extraction and refill, installation of triple-glazed windows and doors, and ventilation upgrades.

Maesteg is a sheltered housing complex consisting of 27 units across six two-story blocks, home to some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Oaklands, an O.A.P. complex with 31 units across six single-story blocks, required extra attention to resident comfort.

Extra care for residents' comfort

Given that both Maesteg and Oaklands house older, more vulnerable residents, special care was taken to ensure minimal disruption throughout the retrofit process. LivGreen conducted regular communication with residents, keeping them informed about the work timeline, explaining the benefits, and addressing concerns. The project team took extra measures to ensure residents were comfortable during the installations of triple-glazed windows, new ventilation systems, and insulation, which could otherwise have been disruptive.

Resident comfort was a key priority, and LivGreen worked to mitigate noise and any other disturbances. Our teams organised multiple resident engagement sessions, keeping an open dialogue about the works to maintain trust and ensure that all concerns were heard and addressed. These sessions were vital in gaining residents' cooperation and reducing the anxiety typically associated with retrofit projects.

Upon project completion, we held resident feedback sessions to solicit suggestions for future improvements. These events provided an opportunity for the community to share their experiences, enabling us to identify areas where our processes could be refined in future projects. As a token of our gratitude for welcoming us into their homes, LivGreen made donations to both the Maesteg and Oaklands communities. Including an onsite defibrillator and a donation towards their communal garden.

Supporting the local economy

LivGreen is committed to supporting the local economy, and we ensured that 90 per cent of labor was sourced from South Wales. All subcontractors were vetted through our rigorous Gold Partners Program, ensuring high standards of workmanship and compliance with industry best practices. We partnered with several approved contractors, including Rockwarm Insulation, SynEco, Thermabead, New Horizon Building Contractors, and 2020 Scaffolding, all of whom played an essential role in the success of the project. Where specified, we also used Caerphilly County Borough Council-approved contractors, ensuring alignment with council guidelines.

Ongoing benefits for residents and the community

The work at Maesteg and Oaklands will provide long-term benefits, offering both immediate energy savings and improved living conditions for residents. With homes now properly insulated, fitted with efficient ventilation, and equipped Solar PV systems, these properties will deliver sustainable, comfortable living environments for years to come. Looking ahead, energy usage will continue to be monitored, and the data will be used to inform further improvements across the council’s housing stock.

The Maesteg and Oaklands projects have transformed the lives of their residents. They have reduced environmental impact through energy savings and carbon reductions while enhancing comfort and quality of life for vulnerable communities. We are honored to submit this project for a sustainability in housing award.

Outcomes and achievements

Sustainable impact: Energy savings and environmental benefits

From a sustainability perspective, the retrofits at Maesteg and Oaklands have dramatically reduced the energy demand of the housing units.

At Maesteg, energy savings were substantial, with each property saving an average of 2,320.7 kWh/year in space heating, and total CO2 emissions reductions amounting to 12,620 kg/year. Oaklands delivered even higher energy savings, with an average of 3,180.5 kWh/year saved per property and CO2 emissions reduced by 27,113 kg/year across the entire site. These reductions not only benefit the environment but also translate to tangible financial savings for residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes.

One resident from Maesteg even provided a video testimonial explaining the positive changes he has noticed as a result of the retrofit. He emphasised that his home is now much warmer in winter, with less need for heating, leading to lower energy bills—a critical improvement for those living on pensions.

• Project name: WWH Deep Retrofit project at Thomas Court, Wrexham
• Lead organisation: Wales and West Housing
• Partner organisation: Welsh government

Statement of support

In response to the net zero challenge Wales and West Housing (WWH) has actively sought to improve the homes of its residents through retrofit so tackling carbon emissions with easy-to-use efficient technology.

WWH currently has nine retrofit projects on site having completed 32 projects since 2021. In the past year, WWH has secured £4.9 million in Welsh government Optimised Retrofit (ORP) funding to carry out work on 98 homes to make them warmer and help tackle fuel poverty as well as lowering carbon emissions. A further 154 homes are due to be retrofitted by next March with £3.6 million of Welsh government funding.

Thomas Court in Wrexham is an example of a “deep retrofit” project to provide a full package of energy efficiency home improvements for residents.

WWH bought the 35 home-scheme in 2022. The homes, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom houses and bungalows, were built in the late 1980s from brick and block construction. The heating and hot water ran on inefficient Economy 7 electric storage heaters and immersion hot water tanks.

The residents living there include young families, older, retired people and some wheelchair users with additional needs. Many complained that the homes were cold and draughty and the heating was expensive to run. Some properties had issues with damp and mould as residents could only afford to heat one room.

Following the purchase, WWH surveyed the fabric of the properties for thermal efficiency and heat retention and found they needed investment. The homes still had the original double glazing from the 1980s and although some of the homes had been fitted with cavity wall and loft insulation decades ago, it was decided that the scheme could benefit from a “deep retrofit”.

The project concentrated on improving the thermal efficiency performance of the structure of homes to make them more affordable for residents to keep warm and bring them in line with WWH’s approach to decarbonising its stock.

Under the project all 35 homes will be fitted with:

• New energy efficient double-glazed windows and doors, external wall insulation (EWI) and increased loft insulation to upgrade the fabric of the properties to retain more heat
• Air-source heat pumps to replace the electric storage heaters
• Solar PV panels on the roofs with diverters to help residents use as much of the energy generated by their homes as possible and further reduce energy costs
• Energy-efficient Sunamp Thermino heat batteries to replace the Economy 7 hot water tanks. The system works with air-source heat pumps and solar PV panels, storing heat from low-carbon energy sources and releasing it for mains-pressure hot water when needed
• New ventilation systems, either mechanical heat recovery (MVHR) or positive input ventilation depending on the type of property. This will make sure the homes are well ventilated and indoor air quality standards are maintained to increase comfort and wellbeing for residents.

The entire project is estimated to take two years to complete, by March 2025, and cost £3.2 million with £2.9 million from Welsh government’s Optimised Retrofit Programme.

This project has not come without challenges as WWH needed to apply for planning permission to fit air-source heat pumps within three metres of neighbouring boundaries. WWH has been one of the leading voices in driving the need for legislative change to expedite the transition to heat pumps, in line with Welsh government’s ‘Heat Strategy for Wales.’

The Thomas Court project is being delivered in partnership with Welsh contractors to further WWH's commitment to support the foundational economy and the development of SME contractors into the green-skills sector in the move to net zero.

Outcomes and achievements

By taking a “deep retrofit” approach WWH aims to make all 35 homes at Thomas Court more comfortable for residents to live in and more efficient to heat by:

• Achieving a low U-Value rate of heat loss of 0.18W/m2K for the properties, equivalent of the standard of new-build homes
• Improving the EPC rating from E and D to B
• Reducing condensation and damp which leads to mould with new ventilations systems
• Improving the external appearance of the homes with the EWI.

The homes are fitted with iOpt remote monitoring systems to monitor energy consumption, temperatures, CO2 and dew point moisture levels which can trigger condensation. Data is being fed back to Welsh government to inform the future of energy efficiency for all homes in Wales.

Feedback from resident Darren:

“I couldn’t have spent another winter in the house, it was always cold and damp. The storage heaters never kept the house warm, and I couldn’t afford to run the hot water.

"I was spending up to £8 a day on electricity in the winter, now I’m paying £2.50, and the house is lovely and warm and I have instant hot water.

“It’s improved my mental and physical health.”