Octopus Energy and SNG deliver first ‘Zero Bills’ homes for social housing residents
- First social housing tenants moving into cutting-edge ‘Zero Bills’ homes
- Residents of Nexa Fields, Exeter to pay nothing for energy for at least 5 years
- Homes developed by SNG and Verto are the most energy-efficient in the UK
Exeter, 18th December 2024 - Octopus Energy and SNG customers become the first social housing residents to move into homes with no energy bills for at least 5 years.
At Nexa Fields in Exeter, six social housing residents will pay absolutely nothing for their energy, thanks to state-of-the-art green technology that makes their homes eligible for Octopus Energy's pioneering ‘Zero Bills’ initiative.
Launched in 2022, ‘Zero Bills’ is a world-first energy tariff from Octopus Energy that allows customers to move into homes that are fully kitted out with a heat pump, a battery and solar panels, with no energy bills guaranteed for 5-10 years.
Developed by Verto Homes, a multi-award winning housebuilder, for SNG, the second largest developer amongst housing associations, the homes at Nexa Fields are the most energy-efficient in the UK. Each property has an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a score of 129 – currently the highest in the country.
It comes as SNG presses ahead with its ambition to deliver 25,000 new, highly sustainable, homes over the next ten years. This bold programme is underpinned by its Homes & Place Standard, a holistic benchmark for sustainability and liveability that SNG co-created with its customers to uphold the highest standards for its new and existing affordable homes.
Octopus Energy aims to deliver 100,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030, and has already rolled out the initiative in Germany and New Zealand, as well as the UK.
Tom Titherington, Chief Investment and Development Officer, SNG, comments: “Seeing our customers move into their new homes is always fantastic and knowing that these are the first social housing customers to enjoy zero energy bills adds to our confidence we’re delivering the standard of homes needed for people to thrive over generations.
“As we continue to grow our delivery of good, affordable homes over the next ten years, we look forward to working with partners like Octopus and Verto Homes to keep building places that are a foundation for better lives, while protecting the environment for us all.”
Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Homes Director, Octopus Energy, comments: “Our groundbreaking partnership with SNG and Verto Homes is a huge aid for those moving into these homes who are struggling with their bills.
“We’re helping to reduce their impact on the planet while also reducing their regular outgoings as well - making their homes more affordable and eco-friendly places to be.”
Tom Carr, Co-Founder, Verto Homes, comments: “At Verto Homes, we are deeply committed to building homes that are not just beautifully designed and of exceptional quality, but that also put sustainability at their very core.
“We are immensely proud of Nexa Fields, the UK’s first fully ‘Zero Bills’ community. Seeing the first residents move in is an incredibly rewarding moment for us, and we wish them every success in their new homes.”
Octopus Energy has already accredited well over 1,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes through contracts with a number of prominent developers. Accredited homes span affordable and private rent, as well as private and shared ownership.
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Press Contacts
Octopus Energy Group
+44 (0)20 4530 8369
SNG
01635 572222
Verto Homes
01872 672 237
About Octopus Energy Group
Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting edge energy products to 8 million households globally. Its operations span 18 countries and the entire energy value chain. The group invests in, builds and flexibly manages renewable energy, operating a £7 billion portfolio of projects.
Octopus has licensed its advanced data and machine learning platform, Kraken, to support over 54 million customer accounts worldwide through licensing deals with companies such as EDF, E.ON and Origin Energy. Kraken enables Octopus to drive the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative cleantech. Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.
For more information, check out our website.
About SNG
SNG (Sovereign Network Group) is one of the largest housing associations, providing over 84,000 homes in areas facing some of the most acute housing needs across London and the South of England, with an ambition to build an additional 2,500 homes a year by 2026. It was formed on 1 October 2023 through the bringing together of Sovereign Housing Association and Network Homes.
SNG is a leading builder of affordable homes, including for social rent, and it has a clear pathway to maximise its social and environmental sustainability through its ambitious Homes and Place Standard alongside its planned £100m Community Foundation.
SNG is a member of the G15 group of London’s largest housing associations. The G15 is the collective voice of some of the leading organisations in the housing sector. Its members house one in ten Londoners and are the largest providers of affordable homes in the capital, building a quarter of all London’s new homes, and owning or managing more than 600,000 homes.
About Verto Homes
Founded in 2010, Verto is the UK’s leading sustainable housebuilder. Verto designs, builds, and sells homes that produce zero carbon emissions, with a strong focus on innovation. The company continually explores new materials and technologies to achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency.
Verto Homes has been at the forefront of tackling both the climate and housing crises. In 2014, the company launched the UK’s first Zero Carbon Smart Homes, and in 2023, delivered the country’s first Zero Bills homes in partnership with Octopus Energy.
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