Published: Friday 21 July 2023
We’ve just finished work on a new bio-solar roof at Camelford Court which will help save residents money as well as reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
The new roof on the Lancaster West Estate features 98 solar panels which will generate electricity saving over 15,000kgs of carbon emissions per year.
There are also two bio-roof sections featuring heart motifs in remembrance of those lost in the Grenfell Tower tragedy, as well as sedum plants which will capture carbon and pollutants from the air, again reducing the impact on the environment.
The roof was co-designed with residents who chose the solar panels and heart motifs. The green energy generated will help reduce service charges as it will be redirected back into the landlord supply and used to power the communal electricity once the initial costs of installing the roof have been recovered.
The roof is made of A1 rated non-combustible insulation which will improve safety as well as energy performance. It has a low u-value (strong thermal performance) keeping homes warm in winter, and blocking the sun’s heat in the summer.
Councillor Kim Taylor-Smith, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Grenfell, Housing and Social Investment, said:
With the cost of living crisis biting, and climate change a global problem, this kind of project offers residents two for the price of one. They’ll see a return of the cost of the green electricity generated by their homes, and the new roof will not only be more thermally efficient to drive down bills – the green roof part will actively capture carbon from the atmosphere. This is a great step on our journey to be a greener, safer, and fairer borough.
This scheme supplements a wider commitment to improving the sustainability and energy efficiency of the homes on the estate.
The Council has set out a £120m major works programme to upgrade windows and insulation across the estate as part of its ambitious £400m commitment to upgrading council homes across the borough. The ambition is for the Council to be carbon neutral by 2030 and for Kensington and Chelsea to be a carbon neutral borough by 2040.