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Project Details

Axis’ Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) Design Team – working in partnership with consulting engineers Butler and Young Associates – designed and installed a new energy-efficient heating system for The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames (RBK).

The new Mitsubishi energy-efficient heating system uses Air Source Heat Pumps (instead of existing gas boilers) to produce space heating in the communal areas, rooms/accommodation, bathrooms and kitchens – and hot water – for the entire property: Four Oaks Hostel in Chessington. It replaces the existing heating system where each unit has its own gas-fired condensing combination boilers providing heating and hot water. The internal distribution system will be a wet system and, whilst sizes of emitters increase, they still resemble traditional radiators. We also installed new front and back entrance doors and replaced the old wooden windows with UPVC windows after an air tightness test identified the old windows were expelling heat from the property.

Benefits

• Reduced carbon emissions (18%)
• Reduced annual running costs from £14,000 to £7,000
• Increased energy efficiencies (the building is heated effectively with reduced output)
• Demand-led system with multi-stage power control for better regulation/consumption and CO2 reduction
• Residents can easily operate the new system from a wall-mounted controller
• Solar panels further increase the thermal efficiency of the building, reducing bills
• New doors and windows improve air-tightness

Care of Residents

Residents of Four Oaks include families in a range of situations and living circumstances including those who are homeless. Residents remained in the property throughout, and we kept them informed through our dedicated Resident Liaison Officer, meetings, consultations, regular written communications and clear site signage. We installed a temporary boiler house to ensure that residents had hot water and heating throughout the works. Our team made every effort to keep disruption to a minimum for the residents of Four Oaks and their neighbours.

I think it’s a great idea. The new system that has been installed here is environmentally friendly and the safety aspects of it as well and I think it should be spread out across the borough, or nationwide. – Four Oaks Resident

Find out more about about our retrofitting services, here.