The Energy and Cost Implications of the Renewable Energy Scheme at the Integrated Home for Older People, Plas y Môr, Llanelli, Wales

Abstract

Plas y Môr is a ground-breaking project in the social housing sector in Wales. Completed in 2003, it provides 38 flats as well as care and a wide range of other facilities for the elderly. The building combines a number of renewable energy technologies within a highly insulated timber-frame, including passive and active solar technologies and biomass wood pellet fuelled boilers servicing a communal heating scheme. This paper briefly describes how the building works, and examines its performance to date. It compares predicted energy use against actual data from available utility bills over the period of operation of the scheme. Comparison with similarly sized, residential scheme show that Plas y Môr is performing well, despite a few initial setbacks.