Derwenthorpe was one of the first large-scale low carbon communities in northern England. Its ‘green’ heating and hot water system is at the heart of the development.

The community uses a district heating system. Heating and hot water is efficiently distributed to all homes by the predominantly biomass and gas boilers. These are located in Super Sustainability Centre (SSC). As well as burning natural gas, woodchip is used in the biomass boilers.