Strawberry Vale Estate
Strawberry Vale Properties
Energy Centre Pipework
Energy Centre
Contract Value: £2,600,000
Timescale:
May 07 - Sept 08
Client: Peabody
Strawberry Vale is a 1980’s residential estate in Finchley North London, consisting of medium and low rise blocks owned and managed by the London based housing association Peabody.
"We are delighted that our residents now have a reliable, robust and energy efficient heating system. Throughout the heating works Vital Energi staff provide information, advice and assistance to residents, which was key to the project’s success."
Scott Bonnell, Property Consultant, Peabody
The heating to these 265 dwellings is by a district heating system supplied from a central boiler plant via a network of underground pipework. Due to the age of the heating infrastructure it has suffered regular interruptions to its service. The resulting resident complaints reached such levels that the Trust agreed a complete overall of the existing heating system was required. Due to our expertise in delivering quality district heating schemes, as part of a £2.6m project Vital Energi was appointed to design, upgrade and replacement of the energy centre and underground district heating pipe network and also upgrading internals heating works to all properties on the estate.
Commencing in May 2007 to coincide with the end of the heating season, the first phase of the work involved a complete strip out of the old, inefficient and unreliable energy centre plant and equipment and responsibility for all elements relating to the detailed design and installation, supply and installation of carefully selected plant and equipment including new boilers, heat exchangers, pumps, water treatment plant, pressure vessels, all pipework and valves.
As the majority of the residents are reliant upon the energy centre plant for the supply of primary heating during the Summer months, prior the work being undertaken Vital Energi were tasked with providing a 2MW containerised temporary boiler house facility as an alternative means of supplying the dwellings with heating and hot water via the existing heating infrastructure to minimise disruption and inconvenience to residents on the estate.
In parallel with this a number of improvements were carried out to the internal heating and hot water systems to improve control of space heating and domestic hot water services within the dwellings, including the installation of electronic timer programmers and thermostatic radiator valves. If each of the residents set the programmer to switch their heating off overnight and to run only when they are at home, almost 1 million kWh of gas fuel could be saved each year which is equivalent to approximately 200 tonnes of CO2. Following a successful working relationship with the Trust, Vital Energi was appointed to undertake a second phase of works involving responsibility for design, supply and installation of the above and below ground heat distribution network. The entire underground installation covers over 2000 meters of Vital Energi’s steel pre-insulated pipe, reducing heat losses through the system by approximately 25-30% due to its superior insulation and flexibility, resulting in improved energy efficiency and lower maintenance.
Working closely with Peabody, Vital Energi employed a full time dedicated resident liaison officer (RLO) to liase and co-ordinate with all residents on the estate, a number of which were elderly or vulnerable to ensure a smooth and efficient communication service. The RLO was on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing information and advice and assistance to all Strawberry Vale residents whilst the work was carried out and also arranging access for works to be carried out inside the properties.
Conclusion
Vital Energi have successfully developed and delivered a reliable, high quality energy efficient heating system and service to both Peabody and residents on the Strawberry Vale estate. Whatsmore the scheme was completed on time, to the agreed programme and budget.
