A £27million scheme could slash heating and hot water bills for nearly 2000 homes in Glasgow.
A district heating scheme is being installed in Maryhill's Wyndford Estate which will replace individual boilers in hundreds of homes.
Community energy systems are common in other European countries where they have led to "substantial" reductions in fuel bills.
At the heart of the scheme, which is one of the UK's biggest, will be a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engine.
The engine uses gas to produce electricity and hot water more efficiently and will be housed in a new energy centre at the edge of the estate. The centre will also house gas boilers and a hot water tank.
It will provide all the hot water and heating for the 1527 tenanted properties as well as the potential to supply up to 400 privately owned properties on the estate through a 5km network of underground hot water pipes.
Popular in some European countries, the CHP system takes away the need for each home to have an individual boiler – making it an affordable, energy- efficient way of heating homes.
Every tenanted home will also be fitted out with a new efficient central heating system.
Most of the tower blocks will be overclad to increase energy efficiency and electricity generated by the CHP will be exported to the local grid.
Cube Housing Association has teamed up with Scottish Gas and SSE for the scheme, which it's estimated will cut carbon emissions by up to 7000 tonnes a year.
SSE will design, build and operate the CHP plant for 30 years. They are also contributing around £700,000.
Vital Energi, in partnership with SSE, will be responsible for the design and delivery of the community energy system.
Scottish Gas has agreed to part-fund the new CHP plant and also install the cladding to the tower blocks free of charge.
That will include the nearby 18-storey block at Collina Street – better known as Osprey Heights in BBC's Still Game.
Cube chairman Gordon Scott, who lives in Wyndford, said: "There is no doubt this district heating scheme should make a difference to the lives of hundreds of tenants living in Wyndford.
"The project will modernise and upgrade the heating system in all our tenanted homes and we will offer owners the opportunity to take part too.
"Properties will be warmer, more energy efficient and more comfortable."
caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk
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