A HEATING system with zero running costs is helping social housing tenants in Poole.

Pioneering renewable heating company Minus7 has designed the roof heating system, which allows landlords to charge a reduced price for heat and use that income to offset the government’s requirement to reduce rent by one per cent each year over four years from April 2016.

The company recently installed their system in a pair of energy-efficient three-bedroom homes for Poole Housing Partnership, built by CG Fry and Son Ltd in Old Farm Road, Oakdale.

Mike Harrison, director of technical services at PHP, said: “It is absolutely critical that we have social housing with the lowest energy running costs available. We chose the Minus7 system due to its 24-hour high efficiency capabilities. It has minimal requirements, i.e. warm or colder.

“We need new solutions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and this project was a first for both CG Fry and PHP. The efficiency of the system since installation has been impressive performing at 500 per cent efficiency, in that 1kW of energy is providing 5KW of heat.

“This compares to other renewable heating performance figures that are between 250 and 400 per cent efficient such as ground source and air source heat pumps, making the Minus7 system efficient and cost effective, for residents which is the number one criteria.

“In fact, we were so impressed with the innovative system, that we have signed a new contract for four new flats at a value of £440,000 being built by CG Fry and Son commencing in October.”

Hamish Wilson, chief executive officer of Minus7 said: “Dealing with the affordability of heating for housing is critical to making the homes we build and manage affordable.”

He said with the average cost of housing rent £5,000 it equated to a £200 saving, achieved by charging an equitable rate per kilowatt hour for heating generated through a solar panel roof.

“Our innovative heating solution not only provides low cost heating, but directly supports the rent reduction imposed as part of the £12bn of welfare reforms."

savings that the government wants to make by 2019-20,” he said.