SCHEME that focuses on improving the energy efficiency of over 150 homes in Nottingham has been declared the Local Authority Initiative of the Year at the Energy Awards.
The Energy awards, which took place in London last week, celebrate the intelligent use of energy in the UK.
Councillor Sally Longford, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Energy and Environment, said: “It’s a great achievement to have won this award and testament to the innovation and commitment that the Council and Nottingham City Homes have shown to make real progress in the reduction of carbon emissions from our housing stock.”
The Local Authority Award was launched last year in recognition of the growing importance of local authorities to facilitate the UK’s move to sustainable energy.
Nottingham City Council’s Energy Services have now won this award two years running.
Nottingham City Council is the first local authority in the country to adopt an approach known as Energiesprong.
Pioneered in the Netherlands, Energiesprong upgrades a home with new outside walls and windows, a solar roof, and a ‘state-of-the-art heating system’, dramatically reducing household energy bills and making homes warmer and healthier for residents.
Ms Longford added: “Other councils and housing providers are now beginning to follow our lead and the Energiesprong approach is gathering momentum across the country.
“Large housing providers have a really important part to play in not only reducing the emissions of our own stock but also kick starting a revolution in the UK’s construction sector to make ultra-low energy homes affordable to all.
“As well as stepping up to our environmental responsibilities, many of our residents live in fuel poverty so creating more energy efficient homes to reduce people’s energy bills is a high priority for us.
“We’re very excited that Nottingham is at the forefront of this revolutionary approach, which can help tackle both fuel poverty and climate change.”
Nottingham City Council has been piloting this new approach on its Nottingham City Homes properties with funding received from the European Union.
Over £6m has been brought into the city through the following funding streams Horizon 2020 (REMOURBAN project), European Regional Development Fund (DREeM) and Interreg NWE programme E=0.
