£725k energy saving improvements to DCH homes in Devon
- £725,000 invested in a programme to help 150 homes across Devon with energy efficiency improvements
- Ready for Retrofit has already created 253 jobs, supported 560 local businesses and saved 40k tonnes of CO2 in the South West
Homes across Devon will benefit from £725k energy efficiency improvements thanks to an alliance of the Energy Saving Trust (EST) through its ‘Ready for Retrofit programme’ and housing provider DCH.
The improvements will lead to significant reductions in energy bills, carbon emissions and improved comfort levels for the residents of almost 150 DCH homes in Devon. Ready for Retrofit has invested £508k into the programme combined with £217k investment by DCH, bringing the total investment to £725k.
The homes will benefit from three types of new heating installation: air source heat pump systems for central heating and hot water, high efficiency gas fired central heating systems to replace solid fuel or night storage heaters, and new high-efficiency gas boilers to replace the inefficient ones.
DCH (formerly Devon & Cornwall Housing) is the largest provider of affordable homes working in the south west; in the top 30 of housing associations nationally by stock size with over 21,000 homes in management.
EST estimates the Ready for Retrofit programme in the South West has already created 253 jobs, supported 560 local businesses in the retrofitting sector saved 40,000 lifetime tonnes of CO2.
Jon Rattenbury, Ready for Retrofit Manager said:
“This a great project for homes in Devon and the local economy. It will protect these households from rapidly rising energy bills, provide them with affordable warmth and help to grow the local economy.”
Doug Stein, Group Director of Asset Management at DCH, said:
“The expertise and financial strength of DCH has enabled us to work in partnership with the Ready for Retrofit funding team so that we can accelerate our program of energy efficiency improvements to our housing stock in Devon. Improving the energy performance of our houses is the best way we can help our residents keep their homes warm and their fuel bills down.”
In addition to the support provided to social housing, Ready for Retrofit runs a number of other programmes to encourage retrofitting in privately owned homes.
For more information on Ready for Retrofit, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/readyforretrofit
Ready for Retrofit is part-financed with £4.75m of European Regional Development Funding.
ENDS
For further information about the project contact Kathryn Williams at Coast Communications on 07783 292652, kathryn@coastmarcoms.co.uk, or Richard Kay at the Energy Saving Trust on 020 7227 0385, Richard.Kay@est.org.uk
About the Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust helps householders, governments, businesses and organisations save energy every day. Our activities include:
• delivering or managing government programmes
• testing low-carbon technology
• certification and assurance for businesses and consumer goods
• developing models and tools to gain further insight into energy efficiency
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
About DCH
DCH (formerly Devon & Cornwall Housing) is a growing and developing affordable housing business that is valued by our customers; investing in new and existing homes that people want to live in, strengthening communities that will be sustainable into the future, and improving prospects and opportunities for people across our areas of work. We are one of the largest developers of affordable housing nationally, managing more than 20,000 homes. We have developed over 2,000 affordable new homes in the last four years and have a pipeline development programme up to 2017 of a further 3,500 homes for rent, shared equity and outright sale.
DCH employs over 800 staff, including 10 apprentices directly employed and supported.
Visit www.dchgroup.com
About 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
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