People affected by fuel poverty or living in energy inefficient homes are set to benefit from new funding awarded to the city council.
Norwich City Council has successfully bid for £2.8m from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Sustainable Warmth Competition, to retrofit properties in the city to greater levels of energy efficiency.
Sustainable Warmth is a competition being launched to bring together two government-led fuel poverty schemes into a single funding opportunity for local authorities.
One of the key goals of the fuel poverty schemes is for local councils like Norwich to be able to use the funding to protect those living in vulnerable households across the city.
Around 230 private-sector homes will benefit from the work in Norwich, which will be delivered in partnership with E. ON until March 2023.
A number of different areas of work will be carried out, including insulation of lofts, external walls and under floors. Solar panels will also be installed at 100 properties, while 30 will receive new heat pumps.
All of these methods will improve the efficiency of properties, meaning the households generate and retain heat and energy better than currently.
This will not only allow for money to be saved on energy bills, but also benefits the environment by stopping preventable carbon emissions.
These environmental upgrades support Norwich’s recently-revised target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2045, which is five years ahead of the previous goal set by the Norwich 2040 City Vision partnership.
Securing this funding is part of the city council’s ambitious plans on the climate change agenda – something it is at the forefront of driving forward for the city and its residents. Linked to this is the vital role the council plays in bringing together key partners who have recently formed the Norwich Climate Commission which will provide leadership and advice on climate change and sustainability.
Councillor Emma Hampton, cabinet member for climate change and fuel poverty at Norwich City Council, said: “This funding is hugely welcome and will make a massive difference to the lives of those in areas where fuel poverty and energy inefficiencies are most common.
“As well as supporting our citywide target of net zero carbon emissions by 2045, it will also address financial inequalities within certain areas of our city that need it the most.
“But we’re not stopping here. Our environmental agenda is ambitious and we are rightly leading the way on behalf of the city and the residents we serve. We will take every opportunity to secure additional government funding to help us deliver some on our ambitions.”
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