Improving energy efficiency in our homes

As part of our on-going plan to improve the energy efficiency of our homes, we will invest £31.4 million over the next five years as a third wave of work is set to start this spring.

The investment, at no cost to our customers, aims to bring a third of our housing stock up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ‘C’ standard by 2030. This will impact approximately 3827 homes.

The ambition is that 100% of our homes will achieve this standard by the start of the next decade.

The announcement comes as the energy price cap will rise 6.4% from April - meaning a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £1,849 a year, up £111.

The third wave of improvements, costing £9.3 million, is due to start this April in Oldham, in the Abbeyhills and Roundthorne areas, and Delph in Saddleworth.

Around 2100 homes or 700 homes per year for the next three years will receive upgrades in these areas. Measures will include, loft insulation, triple-glazed windows and insulated doors. Low energy lighting, cavity wall insulation and smart heating controls will also installed.

“This big investment is prioritising those homes most in need of upgrading from a lower EPC score of E or D,” said our Executive Director of Homes, Steve Agger.

“The work we do is targeted at making the biggest impact on energy consumption with the minimum disruption to lower bills for our customers at no cost to them at a time when energy costs remain high.

“Some customers have seen their bills markedly reduced after this work was recently completed in areas like Failsworth and Royton and we are delighted it is making a difference already.”

He added: “We are proud to be building the homes Oldham needs and our new stock, like West Vale, has the very latest energy efficiency measures in them.

“However, some of our properties are more than 50 years old and we must invest to bring them up to standard to help our customers lower their bills and help combat climate change.”

One customer who is pleased with her improvements is Karen Cheetham who had triple-glazed windows and insulated doors installed in her home in Royton late last year.

The 55-year-old said: "The house is so much warmer now, and there’s no more draught. Before, I could see the curtains move with the breeze, but now it’s cosy and comfortable and such a big improvement.

“I’ve already noticed a difference in my energy bills, saving around £30-£40 a month. I would definitely recommend it."

FCHO received a grant from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) of £2.4 million for the recent wave two of improvements. This allowed us to add a further £3 million and spend £5.4m retrofitting 350 homes in Royton, Chadderton, Shaw and Failsworth.

Improving the energy efficiency in our homes also helps the environment by reducing carbon emissions caused by heating homes.