A grant of £100,000 has been awarded to A2Dominion to carry out a two-year study into new low carbon energy systems which provide heating and hot water for residents.
The Building Performance Research Grant has been awarded by the Technology Strategy Board. It is being used for a study at A2Dominion's Andre Street development in the London Borough of Hackney - a recently opened £6.2 million scheme, providing 23 new homes.
All homes at the development are served by a NIBE energy system, a domestic ventilation system which makes use of air within the apartment, using a heat pump, to provide hot water and under-floor heating.
Initial heat is produced by an integrated immersion heater and recycled throughout the property, producing considerable savings in terms of heat energy and Co2 emissions.
The first phase of the study is under way and involves heating two of the new general needs rented properties and assessing heat loss through the walls, windows and roof.
Phase two will begin in February when residents move in to the properties and will monitor how they use the heating system for the next two years.
Energy use is metered and monitored remotely using mobile phone signals and smart meters installed in the properties.
Energy consultant Gastec UK will work with A2Dominion's Development, Housing Services and Community Involvement teams to ensure that participating households are fully briefed to maximise the benefits of the study.
Richard Miller, the Technology Strategy Board's Head of Sustainability, said:
"With low-impact and low-carbon housing we are pushing the boundaries of what we can deliver today.
"Projects like this will help us understand how these homes actually perform in use, and will help establish best practice for the benefit of consumers, the construction industry and society as a whole."<.p>
A2Dominion is also looking to set up smart metering and monitoring so all 23 households at Andre Street can receive consumption figures for their hot water and heating usage.