10:59am Thursday 24th July 2008
By Andrew Greaves
Preston is leading the way when it comes to energy efficiency in local homes, according to latest Government figures.
From 1996 to March 2007, Preston City Council has had a total energy efficiency improvement of 31.06 per cent which is already above the Government’s target for local authorities for 2010.
The figures, released this week by Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs, show that only 13 of the 43 councils in the North West are currently on course.
Preston’s figure is well above the North West average of 20.08 per cent, which in turn is almost two percent under the Government’s target for this stage of its strategy.
Andrea Howe, the council’s strategic housing services support team leader, said: “We are delighted with the figures as energy efficiency in the home is something that we work very hard on.”
Preston City Council, in partnership with British Gas who match-fund the council’s contribution, offer a range of energy grants.
These include grants of up to £1,000 for work such as cavity walling, loft insulation, draught proofing and boiler jackets for anyone over 60, those with children under 16 living with them and those on benefits.
Andrea added: “We have been doing the grants for more than 10 years now and we do around 1,500 homes per year so it is quite a major scheme.
“We started in the Deepdale area and it has grown so much that we are doing more homes year on year.”
Other initiatives include grants for new green energy technology such as solar panels and ground source heat pumps and handing out energy efficient lightbulbs.
South Ribble Borough Council is on target for 2010 with its latest figure showing a total improvement of 22.58 percent.
Manchester City Council and Liverpool City Council are also ahead of the target but it is bad news for Chorley, Fylde, Blackpool and Wyre councils who are all some way short of the Government’s 22 per cent yardstick for this stage.
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