Making homes more energy efficient for customers
Housing Plus Group is upgrading homes across Staffordshire and Shropshire to make them warmer, greener and cheaper to run.
We are working with our contractor partner Broad Oak to upgrade the energy efficiency of almost 530 homes.
Funding towards the scheme was secured from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
One hundred and twenty-nine properties have already benefitted from this work, and a further 400 homes will benefit from this work.
“This project is making our customers’ homes warmer and helping them to save money on their energy bills, which is extremely important given the challenges that many are facing due to rising energy costs,” explains Andrew Kenny, Director of property at Housing Plus Group.
“We want to make sure that all our homes achieve a minimum rating of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C. This funding is helping us to achieve this aim bringing benefits for our customers and the environment. We’re encouraging customers who are offered these works to accept them.”
Homes with the lowest Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) ratings are given priority for improvements, with an emphasis on ensuring any work will be sustainable.
Customer Rhonda, whose home was upgraded this year, said the operatives were respectful, friendly and kept any disruption to a minimum.
She said: “The new windows, insulation and rendering has made such a difference, it’s so much warmer in here and it will be a great benefit in the winter.
“With the new air source heat pump system and solar panels, my electricity bill has halved. In previous summers I was paying £30 a week and I’m using just £15 now.
“The work didn’t cause much disruption to me. They did the work as quickly and efficiently as they could.
“The amount of compliments I’ve received on the improved appearance of my home is also unbelievable. People have been saying it looks like a new build.
“We live by a canal and just the other day a man was unloading his car onto one of the boats and he said how fantastic and modern the houses looked. Whenever I have people round, they say what a difference it has made.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with what has been done.”
The properties benefit from wall and loft insulation, draught proofing and improved heating systems. As well as low carbon technologies including air source heat pumps and Solar where possible – all of which will make homes more energy efficient.
The funding is helping us to meet a government requirement for all our properties to meet energy efficiency standards of SAP band C by 2030 and net carbon zero by 2050.
