New funding will help homes be fit for future
On behalf of a partnership of organisations across the south, we’re delighted to announce we have secured funding from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund.
The funding will facilitate the delivery of a dedicated advice service to help homeowners understand how their homes were built and how they can make them fit for the future. It will provide a platform for residents to learn what adaptations are possible to ensure their home is performing efficiently, and it will dispel myths and confusion around insulation, heating systems, solar panels and more.
Adam Goulden, Chief Executive at the Environment Centre (tEC), said: “Nearly a quarter (24%) of carbon emissions come from our homes so this is a hugely important area. We will not hit our net zero targets without improving our existing housing’s energy efficiency. We also know there’s a gap in awareness, confidence and understanding of the problem, so this funding means we can start to tackle this issue by opening the conversation, sharing our knowledge and helping homeowners make informed decisions about heating and powering their homes. We’re very much looking forward to working with our partners across the region to launch the service to the public in the new year.”
The project will be headed up by the Environment Centre (tEC) in partnership with Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN), Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis (WinACC) and Energy Alton. The bid for funding was also strongly supported by Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, the Greening Campaign and several community groups alongside parish, town and district councils.
The service will be available to any homeowner across Southampton, Portsmouth and the whole of Hampshire. It will sit alongside the Environment Centre (tEC)’s existing affordable warmth services; Southampton Healthy Homes, Hitting the Cold Spots (Hampshire) and Switched On Portsmouth, that help lift people out of fuel poverty and towards more comfortable and sustainable living circumstances.
