East Riding of Yorkshire Council is continuing to invest in helping people make their homes more energy efficient despite the reduced sources of national funding now available.
The council has a good record over the years in supporting residents both through its own schemes – particularly cavity wall and loft insulation – and by helping people access national ones.
However, fuel prices continue to rise fast and many households in the East Riding, as elsewhere, struggle with bills and are estimated to be in fuel poverty.
Despite the ending of national funding, the council has set aside money to continue its cavity wall and loft insulation scheme in partnership with Npower for the next two years. Under the scheme, some residents can get this for free while others pay just £99 for cavity wall and £109 for loft insulation – a small proportion of the commercial cost.
The council has also earmarked £200,000 to continue its award-winning scheme to install air source heat pumps to properties in rural areas which are off the main gas network. The pumps work by extracting ambient heat from outside and condensing it to the inside – like a fridge in reverse. Working in partnership with a not-for-profit company, the council has already put the energy efficient technology into around 100 homes.
More people in the East Riding are now seeking to install solar panels to their properties to reduce fuel costs. As well as making their homes more energy efficient, a Government policy for ‘feed-in tariffs’ allows residents to receive income for the electricity produced (although the tariff will change from 12 December which could reduce the return on the investment) . The council will now develop a list of qualified installers in the area and also an information pack to help local residents.
Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for rural issues and cultural services, said: “It is good, and a wise use of resources, that the council is helping residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint.
“These measures are particularly useful to people in rural areas who have a limited choice of traditional fuels and very often properties that are difficult and expensive to heat.
“Fuel poverty is a real concern and anything the council can do to help is to be welcomed and applauded.”
The council’s cabinet endorsed these energy efficiency initiatives at its meeting on 1 November.
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