The 'Way of the Sun' Shining in Whitehill

Drum Housing Association in conjunction with the development consortium Wayfarer, showcased more highly energy efficient homes in Whitehill, Hampshire, last week, to great interest from the Housing Corporation and from the staff at East Hampshire District Council.

Back row l – r Nadya Wagland, Drum Tenant Board Member, Julie Fawcett Housing Corporation Board Member, Paul Ciniglio, Drum’s Innovations and Environmental Manager, Mrs Turner, Claire Virginie, Drum’s Development Manager for the site, Peter Cruttenden, Chair of Drum’s Board, Fiona Cruickshank, Regional Director for the Housing Corporation(foreground) Sarah Chivers, Drum’s Housing Consultant, Mr Turner

Representatives from Wayfarer joined with the new residents to celebrate the three new homes, called the ‘Way of the Sun’, which heralds the second use of an innovative heating system known as ‘Sunergy’, in the world.  The first use of the system was Drum’s ‘Evergreens’ development also based in Whitehill, which won the award for ‘the Best Integration of Renewable Energy in a Community Development’ at the South East Sustainable Energy Partnership (SESEP) at the Renewable Energy Awards.

The ‘Way of the Sun’ houses in Whitehill

“The ‘Sunergy’ system is like a giant solar panel covering the entire roof of the ‘Way of the Sun’ homes whilst appearing to be a conventional roof,” explains Paul Ciniglio, Innovations & Environmental Manager at Drum, “it provides solar thermal heating for both space heating and hot water.  In addition, an array of solar electric photovoltaic’s  was provided to generate free electricity on site, to complement the Sunergy system, and together signals the way towards zero carbon heating solutions in housing.”
 
The residents of the three new homes were all delighted.  Mrs Turner who lives in one of the houses explained that she had never been happier since moving into the house where she lives with her husband and young son.

Julie Fawcett Housing Corporation Board Member said: “I am delighted to be opening this development at South Hurst, Whitehill.  It is very exciting that Housing Corporation investment has contributed to the provision of 3 family homes that have been fitted with two different renewable energy systems which should assist in reducing the families’ heating bills and will have a positive impact on the environment by reducing CO2 emissions.”

The Wayfarer Consortium, of which Drum is a constituent, received over £63 million of grant for developments across the South East and South West regions of the country in 2006 -2008, which will provide more than 1500 units of affordable housing.