Heating System Drives Residents Into Energy Poverty, Claims Tower Block Man

A resident spoke to Solihull councillors. He wants them to stop a heating system because he thinks the heating bills are too high. Josh Kearns lives in Pembroke House, in Smith’s Wood, and only uses heating now when his son visits. The cost is too much for him otherwise.

Solihull Community Housing installed biomass heating. This system uses wood pellets for heat, which burn in a central boiler, and heat and hot water then go to each flat. Josh surveyed many residents in the tower blocks, asking about affordability, efficiency, and reliability.

Almost everyone said the system was not affordable or efficient, and ninety-eight percent said it wasn’t reliable.

One resident spends £300 on biomass each month, only using the heating twice monthly. Another family shares bathwater, because it costs too much for individual baths. A 72-year-old spends most of her time in bed, saying she can’t afford to heat her flat.

Josh spends £125 for two days of heating weekly, which he needs when his disabled son is there. It is very expensive for him, as the cost is £38.35 per kilowatt hour for biomass, while gas costs only £6.3 per kilowatt hour. He wants old gas boilers switched back on.

Councillor Mark Parker knows of resident concerns. The council is doing energy assessments to compare energy usage and hopes to lower the costs. The Ukraine war raised biomass costs significantly also after it began.

Councillor Hazel Dawkins asked to pause the biomass system. Councillor Parker said more biomass installs are not planned, and they are seeking funds to help fix the current system. The council meeting happened on February 4.