We’re delighted to be part of the South West Net Zero Hub’s successful bid to the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 (SHDF).

As part of the bid Brighter Places have secured £300,000 towards improvements to efficiency in 30 resident homes that currently fall below the EPC C energy efficiency standard.

This means we can provide these residents with more energy efficient and comfortable homes that are warmer in winter and cooler in summer and help meet the UK’s net zero carbon target.   We will use the funding to install ‘fabric first’ energy efficiency measures and all homes will benefit from improved ventilation and insulation such wall, and loft insulation.  We will also install or improve other measures including, external and internal wall insulation, roof insulation, and low energy lighting where required.

This is the first step in our Corporate Strategy commitment that 100% of our residents’ homes will have at least an EPC C rating by 2030.

EPC C is the minimum rating that the Climate Change Committee is proposing all UK homes should reach in order to help meet the UK’s net zero carbon target by 2050.

Brighter Places Chief Executive Anna Klimczak says, “I am really pleased that Brighter Places has secured this funding as part of the South West Net Zero Hub bid. It will mean we can improve residents’ homes making them greener and more efficient to run and keep us on the path to our commitment that all our homes will have an EPC C rating by 2030.

There is lots for us to do to meet this target.  However at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills it is our priority to upgrade resident homes to make them warmer, more efficient and move us forward in our journey to becoming net zero.”

The government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2 (SHDF) is designed to fund new “fabric first” measures such as roof and external wall insulation that will lower energy bills and keep homes in the region warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Measures such as heat pumps and other energy upgrades could also be an option for homes that are already well insulated.

Brighter Places is a member for the South West’s Net Zero Hub consortium of housing associations and local authorities that received funding totalling £37.7m for energy efficiency updates for low income households.  Overall people living in over 3,000 homes across an area stretching from Cornwall to the Solent will benefit from the improvements.

The SHDF forms part of the government’s commitment to reduce overall UK energy demand by 15% by 2030, as well as supporting the ambition for the UK to move towards greater energy independence.