HUNDREDS of households in the district could now be eligible for financial help to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes thanks to the awarding of funding to Warwick District Council (WDC).
In the past year, WDC has been successful in securing grants for a number of schemes amounting to over £4million from BEIS (department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) to retrofit over 270 council properties.
And following another successful bid to BEIS’s Sustainable Warmth programme, a further grant of just over £1million has been made available which will enable the council to assist low-income households and landlords in the private sector to upgrade properties that have low energy performance ratings.
The council’s housing team will now work alongside E.ON to identify homes that could benefit from a range of energy saving measures including underfloor and loft insulation, solar PV, hybrid air source heat pumps and smart heating controls.
Households who meet the criteria could receive full funding for efficiency improvements with landlords renting out properties which are F or G energy rated entitled to a 50 per cent contribution.
WDC’s homes, health and wellbeing spokesman Coun Jan Matecki said: “Receipt of this funding is another boost for the council as we roll out our ambitious and extensive programme to improve the energy performance and reduce carbon emissions from all homes in the district.
“This will benefit residents by permanently reducing their fuel bills and make their homes warmer in winter, and also supports our ambition to combat climate change.
“I would like to pay tribute to the housing and health and wellbeing teams who worked so hard to ensure the success of our submission for this fund”
E.ON’s Chief Executive Michael Lewis commente said improving the energy efficiency of homes across the UK was not only critical in helping people keep warm and able to stay in control of their energy use and spend, but also fundamental to achieving net zero targets.
He added: “By working with local authorities like Warwick District Council to offer these government-funded grants to homeowners, we’re helping people to take action for the climate and play their individual role in improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock.”
WDC will now work with E.ON to formalise the scheme which will be launched in the new year.
