‘Green heating does not work’ (From Oxford Mail)

‘Green heating does not work’

12:00pm Tuesday 4th January 2011 in News By Liam Sloan

Matthew Chennells says the heating has not worked properly since his housing association landlords converted the family home to an eco-friendly ground source system. Engineers say it is operating correctly

A FAMILY say they have been left shivering because a new eco-friendly heating system is failing to keep their homes warm.

Ground source heating was installed three years ago at homes in Jerome Way, Shipton-on-Cherwell, that are owned by Charter Community Housing.

The system uses underground heat to help warm the house, but tenant Matthew Chennells, 38, said his and his mother’s nearby home had been left freezing cold.

The dad-of-two said he was paying £70 weekly bills to generate enough heat to stop daughter Chloe, nine, and son Alfie, three, falling ill from the cold.

Mr Chennells said: “Every since they put the system in, the central heating has not been working properly.

“Engineers have come up to look at it, but they report back that it is working fine.

“It produces a tiny amount of heat, and leaves the house really cold.

“This is supposed to be an eco-friendly, green system, but it is useless. We have had to get in extra heating to keep warm.

“We have had the whole family sitting wrapped in blankets because it is so cold.

“My three-year-old is so cold he sits on the sofa with two quilts on, and my daughter goes to bed with two layers of clothes and three blankets.”

Mr Chennell’s mother Diane, 64, who lives two doors away, said she had been complaining about the system ever since it was installed.

The pensioner said: “When we had the start of the real frosts, my thermometer in the hall was reading ‘hypothermia’ in the morning, when the central heating had been on for an hour. By the time it gets to 11am, the thermometer is up to ‘cool’, and only by the middle of the afternoon is it fairly warm.”

She added: “Since the system was fitted, I have had to buy heaters to put around the house. It certainly is not energy efficient in my house, and I dread to see my next heating bill.”

Charter managing director Harjinder Lota denied there were any problems with the eco-friendly system.

He said: “In 2007, we installed ground source heat pumps to all Jerome Way properties as an energy efficient way of providing affordable warmth.

“The homes also benefited from energy saving features, including cavity wall insulation, plus double glazed windows and doors. Our contractor recently inspected the system and confirmed it is running correctly.”