Commendation for Northern City's Initiatives in Alleviating Energy Impoverishment

The Local Council Council (LCC) has made a significant stride in reducing carbon footprint and utility bills for residents with its 'Clustering for Warmth' project. This decarbonisation project, which partners with Cenergist, is one of the country's largest green home and energy bill reduction schemes.

Since its inception in 2020, the project has delivered impressive results. It has saved social housing and low-income residents an average of 52% on their utility bills, translating to an average annual savings of £360 per household. These savings have been a much-needed relief for many, especially in regions like the North West and Scotland where the fuel poverty crisis has been affecting 12.1% and 25% of the population respectively.

The 'Clustering for Warmth' project is part of LCC's £100m investment aimed at improving the energy efficiency of its council stock by 2025. The initiative aims to deliver low carbon heating and hot water upgrades to over 170,000 council-owned homes between 2021-2024.

The project involves replacing inefficient electric storage heating with ground source heat pumps, air source heat pumps, and district heating solutions. These upgrades not only reduce utility bills but also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions. In fact, the project has delivered the equivalent carbon savings of 400 fewer cars or providing the energy for 235 homes.

Dan Ludgate, group business development director at Cenergist, has expressed his satisfaction with the partnership with LCC on the 'Clustering for Warmth' initiative. He noted that the project is a significant initiative in the field of green home and energy bill reduction schemes in the country.

In recognition of its efforts, LCC has won the best initiative to tackle the fuel poverty crisis category at the 2023 ASCP Awards. The 'Clustering for Warmth' project continues to be a shining example of how local councils can make a difference in the lives of their residents, providing warmth, reducing bills, and contributing to a greener future.