Stoke council homes to get solar panels

Article date : 19/08/2010

People living in social housing in some of the most deprived areas of Stoke-on-Trent are to get help making their homes more energy efficient, thanks to the installation of solar panels.

The Sentinel reports that around 50 council properties in Chell and Packmoor which have south-facing roofs are to have the green technology fitted through the project being organised by the council and maintenance provider Kier Stoke.

Using finance from the Housing Revenue Account to fund the project, it is hoped that the solar panels will save tenants £100 every year on their electricity bills.

A report from the local authority said: "Photovoltaic [solar] panels convert sunlight into electricity which can be used within the property and potentially export electricity back into the national grid, should a surplus be generated."

Jim Gibson, chairman of Chell Heath Residents' Association, welcomed the news, noting it would help make people become more efficient and improve the environment for future generations.

Elsewhere, Norwich Evening News has reported that a barn in Norfolk which was fitted with solar panels has been transformed into an award-winning home.

Written by Tony Harrison

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