Costs cut with green sill

From left: Dave Lyon (assistant director for environment, Wigan Council), Paul Barton (director for environment, Wigan Council), Angie Brabbs (scheme manager, The Rowans), Keith Rimmer (inventor, founder and chief executive, Thermocill), and councillor Susan Gambles (cabinet portfolio holder for housing, Wigan Council).
From left: Dave Lyon (assistant director for environment, Wigan Council), Paul Barton (director for environment, Wigan Council), Angie Brabbs (scheme manager, The Rowans), Keith Rimmer (inventor, founder and chief executive, Thermocill), and councillor Susan Gambles (cabinet portfolio holder for housing, Wigan Council).

Social housing tenants will save energy, cut their fuel bills and reduce their impact on the environment after Wigan Council became the first in the UK to install Thermocill – a device made from recycled materials.

Window sills in council properties across the borough will be fitted with Thermocill, an eco-friendly device designed to help a room heat up quicker while reducing energy use.

The device, which is independently verified by the Energy Saving Trust, is set to be installed in 2,000 homes every year and will assist Wigan Council in reaching its goal to be net carbon neutral by 2035.

Paul Barton, director of environment at Wigan Council, said: “It was important for us to find a solution that would help us work towards our carbon reduction targets, while bringing benefits to our tenants.

“Thermocill was a really good fit for us and our tenants, bringing the potential to reduce a tenant’s heating bill by 8%, which is significant given the pending rises in energy costs.

“There are huge benefits to the fabric of the property, the environment, and the individual tenant, so we feel it’s a no-brainer for us.”

About 2,000 of Wigan Council’s 22,000 houses become vacant every year. Thermocill, which is made from recycled materials, will be fitted in these properties as part of usual refurbishment work carried out before new tenants move in.

The device, which is passive, requiring no input from the householder, is fitted beneath any windowsill located above a radiator and designed to create a wall of warm air in front of the window. This reduces both the amount of cold air entering the house and the amount of warm air leaking out via the windows, warming up a room 19% quicker. Reducing condensation and moisture on windows means less damp and improved air quality, safeguarding the health of residents and protecting the condition of the property.

Thermocill is working with Wigan Council to train its inhouse teams in fitting the device, which will be installed in every window situated above a radiator. The council is also exploring a link-up with Wigan and Leigh College to potentially incorporate the training into its existing apprenticeships.

“We’re a very pro-active council that has prioritised addressing the effects of climate change, and Thermocill is a welcome boost to us ultimately achieving our targets,” Paul said.

Keith Rimmer, inventor, founder and chief executive of Thermocill, said: “We have worked closely with the council to deliver this landmark order, which will contribute to the Wigan borough fulfilling its climate change strategy.

“We are now interested in linking up with other councils to help them explore the benefits of installing Thermocill in their properties.”