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Energy efficiency programmes report

Published: 11/10/2017

Flintshire County Council’s Community and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be asked to review and discuss a report on the domestic energy efficiency programmes delivered in Flintshire when it meets this month. The report summarises the domestic energy efficiency programmes delivered over recent years to households in both Council houses and private sector. In total, 4,325 households have received support in the last five years. The measures installed will save them £1.2 million each year for the lifetime of the measures installed and will save over 123,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Main programmes have included: · Solar photo-voltaic panels (solar PV) – installed on 1,106 Council properties; · External wall insulation (EWI) and loft insulation, including the three tower blocks in Flint; · Gas infill schemes – mains gas heating remains one of the cheapest form of heating and 476 properties have been connected to the gas network in six areas of the county; · Off-gas pilot scheme – where properties could not feasibly be connected to the main network, alternatives to fossil fuels has been piloted in 26 properties in the villages of Gwespyr and Gwaenysgor; · The Council launched the Affordable Warmth Crisis Fund in 2013 which funds advice home visits and caseworker support. Since its inception, it has helped 887 people and 2,655 improvements have been installed; · In 2015 the Council secured funding for the Healthy Homes Healthy People programme – this has proved invaluable in helping to increase affordable warmth and reduce preventable health inequalities. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Bernie Attridge, said: “Flintshire is the first local authority in the country to achieve status of a Fuel Poor Partner with the gas distribution network in our area. This means the Council can offer a Warm Homes Assistance voucher itself, which offers a contribution to households in fuel poverty to offset the cost of the gas connection. “Despite the challenging economic pressures, the Council will continue to offer further support for Council tenants and is developing a longer term programme to run alongside the Welsh Quality Housing Standard housing improvement programme. We will also be continuing the Healthy Homes Healthy People programme.” The main resource for domestic energy efficiency improvements to houses in the private sector has been Welsh Government programmes. These are currently on hold and the Council awaits further information from Welsh Government on future funding for these programmes which usually target households at highest risk of fuel poverty.