Solar at Oakview Puts Sustainability at the Heart of Care

Solar Install at Oakview Care Home Aligns Sustainability with Mission to Enhance Lives

Birmingham based Oakview Care Home has continued to prioritise residents and a range of services (nursing, residential, respite) to meet their bespoke needs since 2010. But they know – their sector is more aware than ever – that commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is key to their work enhancing lives and ensuring sustainability. They consider their new Solar PV array a key part of their ESG policy and future.  

Oakview went through intermediaries – Carbon, Energy and Procurement Solutions specialists Auditel and supply chain management consultancy group Grasshopper Ant – as they searched for the right supplier. They chose SolarSense to install Solar PV with annual carbon savings of some 18,391kg, and first year energy cost savings of over £20,000.  

“We are commissioned by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority to help support sustainability initiatives as part of their decarbonisation agenda,” says Annie Spilsbury, founder of Grasshopper Ant who managed the end-to-end project. 

“This is a sector under a lot of pressure operationally and they don’t always have the bandwidth to take on projects like this, from the initial unpicking of what grants are available and how to access them to liaising with multiple suppliers,” says Spilsbury. 

“SolarSense was one of five companies we approached. It was important we had a good fit – a solar supplier which had the right approach to the regulatory requirements and Oakview’s needs. It was a really rewarding result.” 

“Key to our choice of supplier was their approach and reliability,” adds Jag Khatkar, Director of Oakview.  “We are operating a care home – our residents’ home – and we wanted to work with a company who were sensitive to their needs who could deliver the job with minimal disruption. SolarSense did just that. They were professional, reliable, and the whole experience was positive and the payback period on our investment at five years proved much shorter than we’d anticipated.”  

Long-term savings for sustainable care 

Russell Mees, Managing Director of SolarSense, says the company is excited about working with this sector, and partnering organisations like Oakview as they define what sustainable care looks like and can achieve.   

“Partnering with companies in this sector is never just transactional. We are thrilled by the savings they’ll make – over £1m during the system’s lifetime – but we shared the values of the team there and what they are delivering for the residents that rely on them.” 

Oakview’s investment comes as the care sector explores how cutting carbon can also support better care. At a Local Government Association event in September 2026, speakers highlighted the importance of linking decarbonisation with resident comfort, care quality and lower operating costs. Oakview’s solar installation offers a practical example of that approach, combining projected energy savings with its commitment to residents and the environment.