Living on
Leeds PIPES

Leeds PIPES was designed to help Leeds residents heat their homes for less. Homes connected to the heat network save between 10-25% on their energy compared to similar properties using traditional heating technologies. Because we use energy from Leeds’ household waste, the price of heat from Leeds PIPES is less affected by price rises in the global energy market.

Heating a home with Leeds PIPES district heating is a third cheaper than low-carbon electric systems for most homes and cheaper than fossil-fuel gas.

Living in a connected home means only paying for the heat and hot water you use and not a penny more. Residents in connected homes pay separately for heating and hot water. Payments are made to Vital Energi, the operator of the Leeds PIPES heat network, through the smart metering system.

Connected homes don’t use a boiler or hot water storage tank as they take heat and hot water directly from the network. This means that there’s no need to wait for water to run warm and there’s no need to worry about running out of hot water.

After being connected to the Leeds PIPES heat network, most households are able to control their heating, and monitor their usage and top-up using the Glass  app (available on iOS and Android app stores) or the web portal (available on any internet connected device).

*Please note that Housing Leeds properties in Saxton Gardens and on Stoney Rock Lane are not equipped to use the Glass app due to the way these buildings are connected to the heat network.

Heating your home using district heating is a very safe way to warm your home. Unlike gas boilers, there is no risk from carbon monoxide or breathing in the invisible air pollution burning gas creates. Unlike electric radiators/fans, liquid heating systems (like district heating) are also less likely to be a fire risk.

The heat and hot water in our heat network comes from energy recovered from Leeds’ non-recyclable household waste. This helps to reduce the city’s use of fossil fuels and prevents even more greenhouse gas emissions from landfill. By switching to Leeds PIPES, the typical apartment could reduce their carbon footprint by just under 1 tonne every year—that’s the same positive impact as taking a car off the road for six months.

Unlike the use of electric radiators or heat pumps, connecting to the district heating network helps to reduce demand on the city’s electricity grid—which will play an increasingly important role as we become a more environmentally friendly world.

Heating a home with Leeds PIPES district heating emits just one-sixth (or less) of the carbon compared to fossil-fuel gas heating systems and typically 40% lower carbon than air source heat pumps.

Every connected home is fitted with a wall-mounted thermostat and a vPro2 in-home display that gives our customers full control over how much energy they use, and the ability to budget for the future. Smart metering means that we can calculate bills automatically and remotely, meaning no estimated bills, or remembering to log a meter reading. You only pay for the energy you use.

We have flexible payment options to suit your lifestyle. You can top-up at your local PayPoint outlet, online, via Direct Debit or over the phone. Your payments will be for heating and hot water, and separate to any electricity or gas bills you pay. The payments will be made to Vital Energi, on behalf of Leeds City Council.

Heat networks are soon to be an OFGEM-regulated market, giving Leeds PIPES customers additional protections for added peace of mind. We’re ready for this change: our network is already compliant with all known (and expected) regulations set to be introduced.