Fourteen semi-detached properties and seven flats at Mill Place in Thankerton have each been fully retrofitted by Glasgow-based energy services company Union Technical to improve thermal efficiency.

The scope of work on the homes, constructed in 1996 and owned by Clydesdale Housing Association, is a Smarter Homes project for Union Technical – a new initiative which has been designed with a whole-house approach in mind. This has included the installation of solar PV, zero emission heating and battery storage across all 21 properties, which will help residents save up to 60% on their energy bills.

Existing electric heating systems have been removed from all properties and replaced with air source heat pumps. Heating systems in all seven flats have also been removed and replaced with smarter upgraded versions that will interact with the solar PV.

The works at Thankerton, which commenced in January, form part of an ongoing partnership between Union Technical and Clydesdale Housing Association.

Union Technical worked closely with Clydesdale Housing Association to finance the energy efficiency upgrades at Mill Place via paired application, which received 50% grant
funding from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund.

Owen Coyle, director at Union Technical, said: “Union Technical has been a proud partner of Clydesdale Housing Association for many years now. Having completed a similar project last year in the nearby villages of Rigside and Kirkmuirhill, we have seen first-hand the benefits our whole-house approach to retrofitting brings – cutting bills and reducing carbon emissions at the same time.

“Our dedicated team has completed work at Mill Place in a little over eight weeks, keeping disruption to a minimum and making sure residents can focus on the benefits the work to their homes will bring.”

Vicky Rogers, depute chief executive at Clydesdale Housing Association, said: “This is our second Smarter Homes project, partnered with Union Technical, and we are delighted with the outcome. Our technical services officer, Nikki McLachlan, has worked closely with the Union Technical team to ensure that the work in our tenants’ homes has been completed with little disruption and on time.

“We are acutely aware of the difficulties our tenants are facing at present with the cost of living crisis and this is compounded with rising energy costs. The tenants are already realising savings on their energy bills and have praised both Union Technical and the Association for carrying out the much needed heating upgrades to their homes. We would like to thank Union Technical for their commitment to the project and to the Association’s tenants.”