PH Jones & Broadacres Housing Association Case Study
PH Jones is the main contractor delivering Broadacres Housing Association’s SHDF Wave 2.1 project in North Yorkshire. They are responsible for the whole house PAS:2035 retrofit and compliance on this project. Broadacres Housing Association is an innovative, not-for-profit housing association based in the market town of Northallerton in North Yorkshire. Their shared vision for Broadacres SHDF Wave 2.1 project delivery was to bring effective energy efficiency measures and comfortable homes to as many Broadacres residents as possible.
Broadacres Housing Association chose PH Jones as a trusted partner to help them achieve their main targets for the project which included:
● Cost-effective ways of achieving minimum SAP 69 across their housing stock
● Less disruptive methods of insulating/reducing draughts from suspended timber floors
● Increased comfort for customers.
The Challenge
Many of the properties involved in this project were houses with suspended timber floors. PH Jones chose to tackle the heat loss that can occur through suspended floors using a combination of insulation and draught proofing. Underfloor insulation was not always a suitable measure for suspended floors due to structural limitations or moisture issues that required ventilation. To address these challenges, PH Jones sought to implement an alternative solution partnered with AirEx Technologies, integrating their innovative smart air bricks as a draught-proofing measure to enhance energy efficiency and improve the thermal comfort of residents.
The AirEx Solution
Both Broadacres Housing Association and PH Jones found AirEx Technologies to be an excellent fit for their needs. AirEx smart air bricks reduce the cold draughts caused by the over-ventilation of suspended timber floors. By controlling the ventilation more effectively, these smart air bricks significantly enhance the overall warmth of homes. So far in this project, AirEx smart air bricks have been installed in 13 homes with plenty more planned installations to come.
PH Jones chose AirEx for several key reasons:
Ease of Installation: The installation process for AirEx smart air bricks is straightforward, minimising disruption for residents.
EPC Rating Improvement: AirEx installations add 2-4 points to the EPC rating of each property. In some cases, the improvement was as high as 6 SAP points.
“The product is easy and quick to install with minimum disruption”
Compliance and Quality Assurance
PH Jones is accredited to PAS:2035 and PAS:2030 and prides itself on a robust survey, installation, and post-installation process, guaranteeing high-quality outcomes for all retrofit projects. As Broadacres was delivering this project as part of an SHDF Wave 2.1 funded project, it was necessary to lodge any installed measures in compliance with PAS:2035. They ensured compliance with PAS:2030 by treating AirEx as a measure under Annex B.2 Draughtproofing.
“AirEx has been a fantastic product so far, it’s not difficult to install and has a good SAP point increase for the property, so it has been brilliant.”
Impact on Residents and Energy Efficiency
Residents have noticed immediate improvements in the warmth and comfort of their homes following the installation of AirEx smart air bricks. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with residents appreciating the minimal disruption during the installation process. Importantly, they did not need to vacate their homes, which was a significant advantage.
“Most of the work was done from the outside, the old ventilation brick was removed the old mortar was drilled, then a hammer and chisel were used, so not too noisy with little disruption and it didn’t take very long”
Cost-Effectiveness and Carbon Reduction
AirEx installations have proven to be a cost-effective energy efficiency measure. The uplift in SAP points (Standard Assessment Procedure for energy rating of dwellings) and the associated EPC improvements have demonstrated the value of this solution. Additionally, the reduction in carbon emissions aligns with broader environmental goals, making AirEx a recommended measure for many properties within the project. Installing AirEx Floorvent contributed to a reduction of 3283 kg of CO2 emissions from Broadacres housing stock, yielding significant environmental benefits. Additionally, the initiative led to annual fuel cost savings of £3250 for residents, easing the financial burdens related to heating expenses.
“We can now take advantage of the additional 2-4 SAP points gained from the Airex Floorvent installation. This can be added to the home’s EPC rating, providing a convenient method for upgrading some of our high D-rated homes to a C rating. Customers can now benefit from lower heating bills and improved insulation, which is particularly beneficial in the current cost-of-living climate.””
Conclusion
The partnership between PH Jones and AirEx Technologies has successfully addressed the challenges of improving energy efficiency in social housing. By integrating AirEx smart air bricks into their retrofit projects, PH Jones has provided a practical and effective solution to combat heat loss and enhance the comfort of their client’s residents. The project's success is underscored by improved EPC ratings, positive resident feedback, and significant strides in cost-effectiveness and carbon reduction.
“Broadacres is installing AirEx smart air bricks as part of our SHDF Wave 2.1 programme. The product is quick and easy to install, with very minimal disruption to customers. We’ve received some positive feedback from customers so far and an improvement in SAP score of 2-4 points, and sometimes more for each installation.”
PH Jones plans to continue utilising AirEx smart air bricks as a core component of their energy efficiency measures, ensuring that more residents can benefit from warmer, more comfortable homes. The innovative approach exemplified by this partnership sets a benchmark for future social housing retrofit projects, demonstrating that significant improvements in energy efficiency and resident satisfaction can be achieved with the right solutions.