Bristol’s £2 million energy saving boost

Hundreds of residents across the city will benefit from new funding for energy saving measures in their homes to help cut their fuel and electricity bills.

Bristol has been awarded £2 million capital funding to develop and deliver a household energy efficiency retrofit scheme by the Energy Secretary Ed Davey.

The scheme will deliver energy efficiency measures to 600 households across the city.

The scheme will provide householders with funding to have an accredited home energy assessment to identify and confirm what measures they can take to cut their fuel bills. Where measures are identified householders will be able to select which ones they take forward and which accredited installer carries out the works. Measures could include solid wall insulation; loft/cavity wall insulation, floor/unusual loft insulation, boiler upgrades or heating control installations.

They will be able to pay for the works through a mixture of loans and grants depending on personal circumstances to pay for the work. At least 100 households on low incomes will be able to access fully subsidised packages.

The aim of the Government-backed project is that these 600 homes will be spread across the city covering every ward and form a network of homes that will show case what home retrofit might look like and what can be achieved. The scheme will utilise Green Deal accredited (or equivalent) assessors and installers, allowing householders’ choice in who carries out the works. A special show home event will be held as part of this campaign.

The council will work with the Bristol Energy Network and community energy groups to source interested householders, who will in return receive a small cash-back reward for successful referrals. There will be a similar small cash-back reward for householders who receive a part-loan financed installation.

Cllr Guy Poultney, Cabinet Member for Communities said: “Today’s announcement is further proof of our position as one of the leading green cities in Europe.

“This package presents a great deal for residents wishing to cut down their energy use and save money off their fuel bills. I’m sure the scheme will prove popular with householders across the city and more details will follow shortly on how people can apply.

“This major investment is also very good news for business and jobs in the city. The local supply chain in environmental technologies will receive a big boost off the back of this work.”

The scheme will be open to householders from late October. For more information and to register interest please see www.bristol.gov.uk/winterwarming

It will be be open to both homeowners and private/social tenants, as long as the landlord gives permission for the work. Bristol City Council tenants are not eligible because the council has a separate home energy investment programme running.

The project forms part of the Council’s large scale energy efficiency and renewable energy investment programme of a total value of £140m, for which technical assistance funding of £2.5m has been secured from the European Investment Bank.