Start with a building you can assess
Belvedere Lodge was the first installation in the Ablecare Homes group, beginning in April 2024. A care home needs dependable heating and hot water, so the practical requirements of the installation mattered alongside the expected energy benefit.
The OH4 system was fitted around the existing heating pipework without cutting, draining or taking the plant out of service.
The decision that followed
After reviewing the result at Belvedere Lodge, Ablecare instructed OH4 to fit the system to the remaining five homes in the group. That sequence matters: a pilot at one site, an assessment of its performance, then a decision about the wider estate.
It does not mean each home will achieve the same result. Each building needs its own installation scope and an appropriate comparison.
What to bring into your own pilot
- Choose one suitable home. Review the plant, operating pattern and available meter data.
- Agree the assessment beforehand. Write down the baseline, measurement period and weather or occupancy adjustments.
- Record other changes. Controls, setpoints, building use and maintenance can all influence consumption.
- Keep comfort in view. Agree how heating and hot water provision will be checked during the pilot.
- Review before extending. Use the evidence from that home to inform the rollout decision.
Discuss your care home or group
Tell us about your buildings and heating systems. A free survey is the starting point for considering a pilot.
Related reading: Five questions for your engineer · How the OH4 system is installed and assessed