The Cambridge Building Society has installed solar panels at its Head office in central Cambridge and continues to work on a sustainable residential project.
Spartek, a specialist in solar panels and electrical contracting, completed the project at The Cambridge’s Head office.
The Head office installation took about five weeks, with 258 solar panels generating up to 116,000 kWh of electricity annually, enough to power around 40 three-bedroom houses.
In addition to commercial changes, The Cambridge is working on a retrofit of a 1930s semi-detached house.
This project aims to demonstrate energy-efficient innovations homeowners can use.
The retrofit will include ten solar panels generating 3,000 kWh annually, enough to power a kettle for over 100 days.
Key sustainability improvements considered for the project include insulation, improved glazing, an air source heat pump, a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, electric underfloor heating, solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and a green roof on a rear extension.
Excavation for the extension foundations and the installation of a rainwater harvester are ongoing.
The Cambridge plans to document the process and share insights, tips, and advice from industry experts, including project partners Koru Construction, Pip Architecture, Rethink Buildings, and RHBC Ltd Building Control.
Once completed, the house will be part of The Cambridge’s Rent To Home scheme, offering homes to first-time buyers at below-market rent, with up to 70% of rent potentially returned as a deposit for home purchase.
Richard Brockbank, chief financial officer at The Cambridge, said: “We’re committed to supporting our members now and the generations to come, to create a sustainable future for us all.
“Through addressing our own carbon footprint, we hope to encourage others to do more.
“Renewable energy sources such as solar offer a really effective way to make that positive change and our Head Office becoming solar powered is just the beginning for our sustainability journey.”
Lee Watson, managing director at Spartek, said: “The Cambridge Head Office project is the largest slate roof solar panel installation we have completed to date and is one of the largest rooftop solar panel examples in central Cambridge.
“It highlights perfectly what can be achieved in a commercial setting with relatively little disruption.”
Duncan Turner, project manager at The Cambridge, said: “More people are wanting to make environmentally positive upgrades to their homes, often driven by wanting to save money on their energy bills and do their bit for the environment.
“It’s often difficult to know where to start. Our retrofit case study using a typical semi-detached property aims to show what can be done while providing practical, affordable solutions.”
Turner added: “We’re on a steep learning curve and we want to share the lessons learned and tips for our members and the wider Cambridge community so they might consider implementing energy-efficient solutions for their homes.
“Spartek has proved to be a great partner for us to deliver these projects in a genuinely collaborative way.”
