Energy and regeneration specialist, Equans, will soon start work on a multi-million-pound project, on behalf of social housing provider Ongo Homes, which will drastically reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty for homes in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.
Improvements will be made to 169 houses and bungalows, helping to make them cheaper to heat by up to 40% per year.
The homes, which currently have energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings as low as F, will be fitted with new wall and loft insulation, solar panels, new windows and doors and air source heat pumps.
The upgrades will help to keep the properties warmer in winter and cooler in summer, with EPC ratings rising to at least a C.
The new solar panels will enable residents to generate their own clean, green energy, whilst the air source heat pumps will provide a low-cost heating solution by drawing in and circulating warm air from outdoors.
This project is part-funded by the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), which aims to reduce fuel poverty and drive down carbon emissions from the UK’s social homes.
Talking of the successful SHDF bid, Andrea Morley, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Manager, for Ongo said: “We’re thrilled to have received this funding. We know what a huge difference it will make to our tenants and their homes. A lot of hard work went into the bid, and our partner, Equans, played a pivotal role in securing this funding. The real work starts now, and we’re excited to improve our homes and make them much more efficient to run.”
Steve Batty, Director of Sustainability at Equans UK & Ireland, said: “The bespoke combination of energy efficient technology and upgrades being installed to these homes across Scunthorpe will make a huge difference to their affordability and comfort. In Scunthorpe, 16.9% of households live in fuel poverty, higher than the national average of 13%, so it is vitally important that we work together locally to help reduce energy bills for residents, especially when energy prices are set to increase this month.”
