The County Council, in partnership with Districts and Boroughs, have been delivering projects to reduce the burden of heating costs for some of the least efficient homes in the county under the banner of Suffolk Energy Action.
They have been nominated for the Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Regional Awards as a result of this work, which included two projects funded by grants secured from central government and one sourcing funds from energy companies.
The first installed solid wall insulation to over 750 Suffolk homes. This work is expected to reduce each household’s fuel bill by an average £270 per year and make them warmer and more comfortable homes to live in.
The second project installed central heating systems for the first time into 220 Suffolk homes where residents are most affected by fuel poverty. This offer aims to improve their health by reducing the number of cold and damp homes, which causes at least 100 excess winter deaths per year in Suffolk. The scheme will also reduce their bills and so keeps money previously spent on energy bills in the Suffolk economy.
In addition the Councils have also delivered free loft and cavity insulation to over 1000 homes, utilising the Energy Company Obligation funds that are drawn down from the larger energy suppliers. Installing both measures to a previously uninsulated house could save 25% off fuel bills.
The majority of this work has been carried out in partnership with Aran Services, a local Suffolk business based in Higham, near Bury St Edmunds.
Work in this area is ongoing and the Councils will be launching a new round of offers later this year.
