Kingston Heights, a pioneering mixed-used development in Surrey, has won the 'Best New Technology' award at the 2014 Climate Week Awards, held during Ecobuild, at ExCel in London.
Built by leading specialist contractor United House for NHP Leisure Developments, Kingston Heights is a £70m scheme situated near the banks of the Thames that features the world's first open water heat pump system for this type of mixed-use.
The heat pump system uses river water to provide heat and hot water for the 56 homes for national affordable housing provider Affinity Sutton and 81 luxury private apartments. Later this year, it will also provide hot water and cooling for a new 142-bedroom hotel. The development will save over 500 tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the environment, as well as reducing household energy bills by up to 20% a year.
The awards ceremony was led by keynote speaker Greg Barker MP, UK Minister for Climate Change.
Mike Spenser-Morris, managing director of NHP Leisure Developments and the visionary behind Kingston Heights, said: 'It is an honour to have Kingston Heights recognised at such revered awards. It has been a long journey but through perseverance and a willingness to create change, we have delivered a ground breaking scheme which will hopefully provide the catalyst for other developments to harness an abundant source of energy to further reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.'
