BROADLAND HOUSING ANNOUNCES SMART TECH ROLLOUT TO CONNECT ITS ENTIRE HOUSING STOCK
A Norfolk-based housing association has revealed plans to instal smart thermostats across all of its housing stock, in a move which is set to save tenants an average 17 per cent on their energy bills.
Broadland Housing has partnered with smart tech company Switchee to introduce the rollout, following a successful trial in 2018 in which the devices were installed in 145 homes.
Broadland is aiming to instal a Switchee device in nearly ten percent of its homes by the end of 2021, and once the programme is complete, it will be the first housing provider to have a fully connected housing stock.
Switchee acts as a simple and intuitive control for the heating system and allows residents to save up to 17% on their energy bill, as well as offering remote control of the heating system via an app. The device also allows maintenance and support teams to monitor the performance of systems within the home in real time.
Louise Archer, executive asset director at Broadland Housing, said, “Switchee has demonstrated great outcomes on an operational level during the pilot. We now aim to bring its benefits to all Broadland tenants and staff by expanding the rollout and integrating its data and features with our internal business system.”
One of the tenants who took part in the pilot was Laura, who lives in Norwich. She commented, “The Switchee devices has really helped me monitor my energy use and helped me reduce my fuel bills.”
Another tenant taking part in the pilot was an older man living on his own with physical and mental health disabilities, at high risk of fuel poverty. Broadland’s Tenancy Support team was able to use the data from Switchee to stay in regular contact with him.
“We encouraged him to review how he heats his home, and change the times when the heating was on,” explained tenancy support manager Kevin Gee. “Using the Switchee data, our Repairs team were also able to identify and repair a faulty radiator valve in the property.”
The trial also enabled Broadland Housing to identify a number of potential mould disrepair cases and send damp prevention advice to homes with a Switchee. In light of this, the provider is looking to integrate Switchee’s data with its own Broadland Business Systems (BBS), in order to bring benefits and savings to both tenants and landlord.
Justin O’Connor, Broadland’s head of asset management, said, “Switchee helps our Asset team to take a more proactive approach to tackling issues like damp and mould. It also acts a great tool for engaging our tenants and driving efficiency through its boiler testing and appointment scheduling features. And of course, Switchee can help us reduce our carbon footprint by lowering energy bills, in line with our corporate strategy.”
Tom Robins, Switchee’s chief executive, said, “Broadland has been a great partner and they share our vision that connecting homes with IoT technology can unlock significant value for landlords and residents alike. We are delighted to support Broadland in their ambition to be the first UK housing provider with a fully connected stock and excited to see the positive impact for residents”.