Osprey Housing harnesses low-carbon grant to replace electric storage heaters in Moray homes

OSPREY Housing has been awarded £340,000 by the Scottish Government to help replace electric storage heaters with more sustainable air source heat pumps in 61 of its properties.

The grant has been made under the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme's Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund. It is the largest sum the registered social landlord has been awarded for energy efficiency and sustainability works.

Osprey – which owns and manages more than 1800 properties across Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen – is working with local contractors to complete the project.

The properties being converted are in Burghead, Garmouth, Keith and Aberchirder, and together represent around 20 per cent of Osprey's "off-gas" homes.

Osprey Housing sustainability officer Jane McWhirr said: "This funding comprises around half the total cost involved in switching these homes from electric storage heaters."

Some of the funding has been used to involve Keith-based REAP – the Rural Environmental Action Project – which is providing Osprey tenants with information about their new heating systems as well as advice on helping them switch tariffs.

She added: "We anticipate our tenants will quickly find their homes are warmer and more comfortable round the clock, as these heat pumps are not constrained by having to use off-peak electricity tariffs."

Air source heat pumps are classed as a low-carbon technology. They take heat from the air and boost it to a higher temperature using a compressor. They then transfer the heat to the property's heating system, working a little like refrigerators in reverse.

Ms McWhirr added: "I am really excited to see how these systems perform in their first winter and will be checking in with our tenants regularly to monitor performance."

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