The West of Scotland housing association, which owns and manages over 1000 homes across East Renfrewshire, is set to review the findings of a study into how it can decarbonise its properties. Options to be considered by the BH Board will include the retrofit of low-carbon heating systems.

The study, commissioned with three other housing associations, is a key component of BH’s Sustainability Framework, launched in May 2023. The next stage will be to examine how they can retrofit energy-efficiency solutions across the range and different archetypes of its housing stock.

Barrhead Housing chief executive Lorna Wilson said: “This is another great example of how we are placing the Green Agenda at the forefront of all we do.

“Ensuring affordable warmth for tenants, and clean and efficient energy, is a major priority. We are ensuring going forward that the installation of low-carbon heating systems is a key feature of our house-building programme.”

Another green initiative underway at BH includes the use of technology to monitor the energy performance of its homes, with the aim of advising and supporting tenants on how best to manage their energy use. A pilot study, completed last year, has led already to sensors being installed in BH’s sheltered housing complex in Main Street, giving tenants better and easier energy management.

“We have secured additional funding to install more sensors across our different house types in 2025,” revealed Ms Wilson. “This technology will help to reduce fuel poverty and give us real-time information to better manage our homes.”

Tenant support has also included working with a Citizens’ Advice Bureau energy advisor to reduce fuel debt and securing extra help for tenants. This has resulted in:

• payments totalling £37,500 to 95 customers;
• fuel vouchers worth more than £15,000 being received by 52 tenants;
• electric blankets going to 20 tenants through the Scottish Government Winter Plan;
• and the fitting of new carpets worth £20,000.