Watford Borough Council, Watford Community Housing, Three Rivers District Council and Thrive Homes partner together to deliver improved insulation to homes in the community...
Watford Borough Council, in partnership with Watford Community Housing, Three Rivers District Council and Thrive Homes, have successfully delivered a programme that upgraded some of the worst-performing homes in their areas by installing external wall insulation.
As part of the first phase of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), 57 of Watford Community Housing's properties have benefitted from improved insulation, helping tenants feel warmer in their homes and reducing the amount of energy needed to keep homes comfortable - which can, in turn, help to reduce tenants' energy bills.
As a result of the insulation installed, 139 homes combined were improved to an EPC C rating, which has reduced the carbon emissions from these properties by approximately 173.4 tonnes per year – equivalent to an average of 1.25 tonnes of carbon saved per home every year.
The £1.6m partnered project, managed by OVO Energy Solutions, was partially funded by a government grant that supported the investment from the housing associations.
The SHDF is not over yet. Under Wave 2, Watford Borough Council and Watford Community Housing will improve another 285 of its properties as part of the Greener Herts consortium.
Watford Council is also partnering with Better Housing Better Health (BHBH). They are an independent national charity to improve the use of energy in buildings, help householders save energy and money by providing impartial advice and to help tackle fuel poverty. For more information, please call 0800 107 0044, complete an online referral form or email bhbh@nef.org.uk.
Cllr Ian Stotesbury, Portfolio Holder of Sustainability and Transport, said: “As a partner in this project, Watford Borough Council is delighted to have collaborated with Three Rivers District Council, Watford Community Housing and Thrive Homes to deliver impactful energy-saving improvements to a substantial number of local residences.”
“These upgrades have not only contributed significantly to reducing carbon emissions, supporting the district's journey towards net-zero, but they will also help residents heat their homes efficiently and help save bills and prevent other issues like damp and mould. Watford Council is fully committed to further support the decarbonisation of homes across the district."
Tina Barnard, Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing, said: "We are thrilled to have participated in this project, which has significantly improved the energy efficiency and comfort of our homes in Three Rivers and Watford. The installation of new insulation has helped to reduce residents' energy bills, create a healthier indoor environment, and contribute to our community's overall sustainability efforts. We are proud to partner with Watford Borough Council, Thrive Homes and Three Rivers District Council to make our homes warmer, healthier, and greener for the benefit of our residents."
