We’ve been working with our partners, Equans, to improve the energy efficiency of homes through our retrofit programme. Here’s how the scheme has helped one of our customers.

Press release:

Equans and Leeds Federated Housing Association delivered a £5.8 million project to cut energy use and carbon emissions in over 440 homes in Leeds and Harrogate. This gave residents warmer homes and lower bills.

Retrofit work carried out to the homes – a mix of bungalows and terraced houses across the Leeds and Harrogate areas – has included insulating attics and lofts to help retain heat and keep the properties warmer for longer. Some homes have also benefitted from new windows and external doors.

Equans fitted new smart heating control technology to give residents better control over the temperature in their homes when rooms are not being used.

It’s expected that the improvement work carried out will save over 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the course of its lifetime. This is the equivalent to taking 4,300 cars off the road!

Residents will also benefit from lower energy bills thanks to the project, with some expected to save as much as up to £600 a year.

Sarah Coothoopermal, a Holbeck resident who benefitted from the upgrades, said:

“We have noticed a massive difference. We’re not needing to have the heating on for as long and the house retains heat for a lot longer.

“My son has stopped sleeping with so many blankets now. He’s found his room really nice and toasty.”

The properties, previously described as ‘fuel poor’, are now achieving Energy Performance Certificate ratings of a C and above.

Sarah recommends to others to have this work done. She said:

“I would definitely recommend it. Coming into a house where you don’t constantly have to stick the heating on is a massive benefit, especially at the moment with the cost of living.

“The workmen were friendly, polite and made sure that they were in and out before my son got home. It was worth it just for those three weeks of slight chaos.”

Steve Batty, Sustainability Director at Equans said:

“Historically, inner-city solid brick terraced properties built in the early 1900’s are some of the least energy efficient houses that we have in the UK. The houses struggle to retain their warmth as they are expensive to heat. This scheme is a great example of how these types of properties can be retrofitted to meet modern day energy efficiency standards. It will make them warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat for the residents.

“We’ve partnered with Leeds Federated Housing Association for over a decade to combat fuel poverty in the most affected properties across Leeds. We’ve supported their ambitions of providing sustainable, high-quality homes for their residents. We look forward to continuing this work in the coming years.”

Graham Rosenberg, Head of Asset Management at Leeds Federated Housing Association said:

“We know the cost of living continues to impact our customers and fuel bills are a struggle for many. We’re committed to investing in energy efficiency upgrades to help keep the heat in, reduce fuel bills for our customers and improve the long-term sustainability of homes.”

The project was part-funded by a grant from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (now known as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund).