Background
Blue Mountains Village Ltd, a not-for-profit aged care organisation in Leura, NSW, has been supporting its residents for over 57 years. With 53 independent living units, the Village has always provided heating and hot water as part of its service. While this approach supports resident wellbeing, rising energy costs and ageing equipment had made it increasingly difficult to manage financially.
The Village had relied on a wide range of storage heaters over the years — from Redring Sunstore and Unidare, to Creda units, some of which were still in service after more than 35 years. While residents had grown attached to the comfort these heaters provided, the need for a reliable, modern solution was clear.
The Challenge
The Village required a heating upgrade that could:
- Provide consistent, reliable warmth for elderly residents
- Integrate with their off-peak power setup and new solar installation to help manage costs
- Replace a mixed fleet of heaters of varying age and performance
- Ensure straightforward installation across a wide range of unit sizes
The Solution
Working with their preferred contractor, VES Varian’s Electrical Services, Blue Mountains Village installed a combination of:
- 6 x Heatpac Heatwave 4 Solar Storage Heaters
- 3 x Heatpac Heatboss 4 Smart Storage Heaters
This combination allowed the Village to leverage both off-peak energy and solar power, ensuring cost-efficient heating tailored to the needs of each unit.
The heaters were installed primarily in the loungeroom/kitchen areas, oversized where necessary to allow warmth to flow into bedrooms. In the larger two-bedroom units, an additional smaller heater was also installed in one of the bedrooms to ensure even comfort.
Results
The new Heatpac heaters have delivered immediate benefits:
- Resident Comfort: Residents report loving the new heaters, noting the consistent, comfortable warmth.
- Cost Efficiency: By combining off-peak power with the Village’s solar installation, operating costs are reduced, easing the financial pressure on the not-for-profit.
- Reliability: The Heatwave and Heatboss units provide modern, dependable heating compared to the decades-old systems they replaced.
- Straightforward Installation: Commissioning was simple, allowing upgrades to be rolled out smoothly across the Village.
Key Outcomes
- 9 new Heatpac heaters installed (6 x Heatwave 4, 3 x Heatboss 4)
- Improved energy efficiency through integration with solar
- Positive resident feedback — strong satisfaction with the comfort delivered
- Future-proof solution for a Village with a 57-year history of caring for its residents
Conclusion
By upgrading to a combination of Heatpac Heatwave 4 and Heatpac Heatboss 4 storage heaters, Blue Mountains Village has modernised its heating infrastructure, reduced operational costs, and improved resident comfort. For a not-for-profit aged care provider, this investment ensures both financial sustainability and the continued wellbeing of its community.
Have a question?
Fill out the form and we’ll give you a call within 24 hours to answer any questions you have about the Heatpac products and how they could suit your needs.
