Member Article

New campaign launched to help Liverpool City Region residents get warm this winter

A total of 500 households in the Liverpool City Region that are not connected to the gas grid will be able to have free energy-efficient works measures fitted to their homes thanks to £10.5m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Ecogee, based in Liverpool, will deliver the works and has also launched a campaign “Get Warm this Winter” to raise awareness of the availability of this funding, along with providing more general energy-saving advice.

The funding will make changes to properties that are off the gas grid which will reduce energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and make homes warm, at no cost to residents.

From solar panels to wall insulation, the works will boost energy efficiency in housing across the Liverpool City Region. The project is part of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s £105m programme to fit energy efficient measures to around 10,000 homes across the area.

Councillor David Baines, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Climate Emergency and Renewable Energy, said: “We know that if we are to successfully reach our target of becoming net zero carbon by 2040, we need to halve our energy use in the city region.

“The situation in our homes is even more challenging, as we will have to cut energy use by 60%. We are working really hard with our local authorities to retrofit energy saving measures to as many houses as possible, to save people money on their bills, tackle fuel poverty and help the environment, and I’d encourage everyone eligible for this grant to come forward.”

Councillor Graham Morgan, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Housing and Spatial Framework, said: “As this scheme shows, we are continuing to invest in retrofitting energy saving measures to as many houses as possible, to help people deal with the cost-of-living crisis and meet our environmental targets. The measures available free of charge to people who meet the eligibility requirements will make a huge difference to making their homes warmer and cutting their energy bills.”

Ecogee, who are part of The Regenda Group, will carry out retrofit works in homes including solar photovoltaics panels (PV), cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, external and internal and under floor insulation as well as air source heat pumps, which will aim to reduce residents’ energy bills and carbon emissions.

Managing Director Brendan Helm said: “We really want to get the message out there to those who might not know that they are eligible to get vital, sometimes lifesaving, energy-efficient improvements made in their homes.

“People shouldn’t be living in fuel poverty, but the sad reality is that some are, and some will really struggle over the colder months to heat their homes either through a lack of funds due to the cost-of-living crisis or simply because their homes are not equipped to deal with the colder temperatures.”

The campaign will explain how people can apply for the Home Upgrade Grant via their local authority.

Those living in homes off the gas grid, are on an income or joint income of £31,000 per annum, have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) between D and G, and live in the local authority area will be eligible to apply for the grant. There will also be eligible postcodes that will automatically get access to the grant.

Maria O’Connor, Operations Manager at Ecogee, said: “Certain postcodes across the Liverpool City region will automatically be eligible for works due to the change of eligibility under the new scheme rules.”

The launch of the campaign follows Ecogee’s successful delivery of retrofit works to more than 320 properties as part of the Local Authority Delivery Phase 3 (LAD3) and Home Upgrade Grant Phase 1 (HUG1) schemes.

To find out more about the campaign and register your interest, visit the Ecogee website

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma McGee .