An energy-saving project that helped hundreds of Peterborough households escape fuel poverty has won a Green Apple Environment Award in the national campaign to recognise Britain’s environmental best practice.
The ‘Warm Homes Peterborough’ project competed against more than 500 other nominations and will be presented with their Green Apple Award at a glittering ceremony in the House of Commons in November. Judges include the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Waste Management and other independent bodies.
Run over two years by green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) and funded by ScottishPower Energy People Trust – the project has delivered energy-saving advice and practical help to 1,500 households in Dogsthorpe, Central Ward, Paston, Ravensthorpe and East Ward.
PECT’s Resources Manager Janine Starling said: “We are thrilled to win the award, which is a tribute to the commitment and enthusiasm of residents who undertook the project. It was very fulfilling to help families cut their energy bills, whilst making long-term reductions in their carbon footprint and conserving limited natural resources.
“Follow-up research indicates that our advice helped these residents save a total of £25,145 per year on their energy bills, while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by over 100 tonnes per year. That means the ongoing savings on energy bills will exceed the project’s cost after just four years.
“This project was designed to help people who spend more than 10 per cent of their income on energy. However, if the people benefiting from the project help their friends and relatives make similar changes, the savings could be multiplied many times over. Our Project Officers also recruited 11 local energy champions to continue raising awareness within the local community.”
Under the scheme Project Officers provided personalised advice during home visits to 500 social housing tenants and engaged a further 1,000 people at 13 community events. 23 per cent of tenants secured a cheaper energy supply tariff. Others reduced consumption through simple steps such as fitting energy-saving light bulbs, requesting improved insulation or setting washing machines and heating thermostats to lower temperatures.
In addition, tenants were given a complimentary energy pack containing a range of energy efficient products including a thermometer card, heating guide, shower timer and energy-efficient light bulb.
The success of Warm Homes has inspired another PECT project ‘Energy Matters’ funded by Cross Keys Homes. Through home visits, it provides individual tenants with energy-saving advice and knowledge about government benefits.
Warm Homes also delivered two well received workshops to over 30 local housing association staff on renewable energy and insulation, providing a wealth of information that can be communicated to tenants. The know-how and lessons learned from the project will help inform and improve future energy-saving initiatives.
As a result of this success PECT have been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their experience. Warm Homes will also be considered to represent England in the European Awards for the Environment.
PECT’s Chief Executive Rachel Huxley added: “The success of this project adds further support to Peterborough’s reputation as the Home of Environment Capital. It also demonstrates the benefits of working with energy providers like ScottishPower to promote energy efficiency.”
Notes to Editor
For more information about the PECT Warm Homes Peterborough project click here.
The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and are acknowledged as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries. The awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising and promoting environmental best practice. For more information about the Green Apple Awards please click here.
Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) is a charity set up following Peterborough’s designation as a UK Environment City in 1992. PECT carries out research and implements practical projects to protect and improve the environment. Our mission at PECT is to lead and support the city in delivering growth and regeneration in a truly environmentally sustainable way. As a successful charity we work with a wide variety of stakeholders to make a difference for our environment – through innovation, enterprise and commitment to action on the ground. PECT has a strong track record of delivering projects of regional and national significance. It has a staff of 35 working on initiatives from green spaces to business environmental management to sustainable communities and lifestyles.
For further information please contact:
Nadia Grys, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Peterborough Environment City Trust, The Green House, 1st Floor, 4 – 6 Cowgate, Peterborough, PE1 1NA
