Bristol Tenants to benefit from cheaper energy bills with energy efficiency project

Bristol City Council has been awarded £231,000 from Ready for Retrofit

Tenants in seven blocks of flats in Easton will see savings to their energy bills thanks to Bristol City Council and the Ready for Retrofit programme run by the Energy Saving Trust.

Ready for Retrofit has awarded Bristol City Council £231,000 to retrofit a number of energy efficiency measures including external wall and flat roof insulation as well as draught proofing. The work will cost £1.5 million and will benefit seven blocks of flats owned by the Council. It is forecast that 121 tonnes of carbon will be saved each year.

Jon Rattenbury, Ready for Retrofit Manager said: “This is exactly the type of project that Ready for Retrofit has been set up to support. We want to see energy efficiency improvements in housing to benefit tenants particularly in areas like Easton, which although vibrant, is particularly at risk of fuel poverty.”

The work will be overseen by the Mears Group, which is using local companies Rateavon and Davis Roofing to install the insulation and roofing aspects. Both companies have built up considerable experience in the retrofit industry.

The Council is investing a total of £2.5 million in the overall project to improve the comfort, appearance and longevity of 109 flats as well as reducing their carbon footprint. 

Councillor Gus Hoyt, Assistant Mayor with responsibility for council housing, said: “This work is good news for our tenants who can look forward to cheaper heating bills. In addition, it will help extend the life of the flats and reduce the council’s carbon footprint in line with our Green Capital status.”

The £8 million Ready for Retrofit programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It enables social landlords to apply for funding to improve the energy efficiency of their homes through retrofitting renewable heat and electricity measures.

Ready for Retrofit is already supported a number of schemes across the South West with a total of £1.3m grant funding given out so far.  Jon continued:  “We are pleased to see local companies like Rateavon and Davis Roofing involved in the Easton project. Ready for Retrofit has been set up to help develop the skills and expertise to see energy efficiency, retrofit and microgeneration become a strong sector in the region.”

The scheme will positively affect the Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for the properties, moving them from a D to a C rating.

For more information, please contact Julie Everett at Coast Communications on 01752 847135/ 07866 002635 or email julie@coastmarcoms.co.uk

Ready for Retrofit

Ready for Retrofit is a three-year project offering a new funding opportunity for social landlords in the south west of England (except Cornwall) to improve the energy efficiency of their existing stock. The aim of the project is to grow the local supply chain for low carbon building retrofit by stimulating demand and supporting local SME businesses, in order to create a sustainable domestic energy efficiency and microgeneration sector.

ERDF

The Ready for Retrofit project is part financed by the SW Competitiveness European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf