The project, completed in 2019, forms a part of the ongoing regeneration of the wider Craigmillar area and represents over £9m of investment by the Council, with support from the Scottish Government.
It is one of several large-scale housing projects that has been constructed across the city as part of the authority’s Sustainable Energy Action Plan, which aimed to reduce carbon emissions in new build homes by 42% by 2020 and forms part of a wider affordable housing programme that will see up to 20,000 homes constructed by 2030.
In doing so, the Council reviewed more energy-efficient and renewable technologies to assist in reducing carbon emissions and this included district heating networks. The responsibility of its installation at Greendykes was Arc-Tech’s working in partnership with Main Contractor, CCG (Scotland).
The district heating network serves the development from an onsite Energy Centre which houses a gas-fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit and gas-fired boilers.
Designed by Hawthorne Boyle, the network naturally functions at a lower temperature than standard systems which reduces heat wastage and minimises heat loss. The use of more efficient heat provides a range of benefits ensuring long term energy savings for occupants with open protocol smart meters installed to every property to monitor and manage usage.
The Council has since reviewed its strategy for energy and heating in new build construction with a move towards low carbon/ zero emissions, net zero, and Passivhaus standards of build as part of their ambitious target to become a net zero city by 2030.
Client:
The City of Edinburgh Council