Council sets framework for improving energy efficiency of housing stock
At their Cabinet meeting on Thursday 5 December councillors gave their approval for a new Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Framework for the district’s Council homes.
The new framework is integral to Warwick District Council’s ‘Low-Cost Low Carbon’ strategy launched earlier this year and will set out how they will improve the energy efficiency of 2537 rented houses, flats and sheltered homes they own, currently at EPC ‘D’ or below, bringing them up to a minimum of EPC ‘C’ by 2030.
This policy will be central to addressing the issue of fuel poverty, with a long-term solution to help reduce the energy bills of those tenants living in older, cold and draughty homes.
Councillor Lowell Williams Portfolio Holder for Climate Change commented:
“We are determined to help our residents reduce their household running costs and the district's carbon footprint. I am therefore pleased that Councillors have supported this priority and we can begin the first stage of this process by improving our knowledge of our diverse housing stock and the quality of the data we hold so that we can accurately assess the scale of work that is needed.”
Councillor Helen Adkins Portfolio Holder for Housing added:
“Improving the energy efficiency of our lowest performing homes will be a significant step in supporting the day-to-day wellbeing some of the district’s residents who are most in need of our help. However, to achieve our long-term goals it is vital that we work in partnership with tenants from the outset. This will ensure that our plans and associated benefits are fully understood and that any retrofit or improvement work is undertaken with their full backing and cooperation.”
