Around 700 Council homes now retrofitted to lower bills and cut emissions
Published: 9 February 2024
Around 700 Council homes have now benefitted from retrofitting to make them energy efficient and lower their carbon footprint.
It is expected that more than 200 further properties will benefit in the year ahead, as the wider roll-out of the retrofit programme for all Council housing continues.
Around £4.1m has been secured by the City Council to carry out the work, which includes energy cutting measures like exterior wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, new windows and doors and draught proofing measures, as well as heat pumps and solar panel installation.
As well as saving money for tenants on their fuel bills at a time of high energy costs and making homes more comfortable, it also cuts carbon emissions in the city.
The Council’s retrofit programme has been recognised with several top national awards over the last year.
Cllr Barbara Denning, Lead Councillor for Council Housing, said: “Our team at the Council have done a brilliant job with the retrofit programme, and I know from speaking to tenants that they really benefit from this.
“We have a lot of older properties in Exeter that need making more energy efficient. This not only brings benefit to our residents but also cuts our carbon footprint.
“It’s great that we haven’t had to put up rents in order to pay for this work – it means that our tenants get all the benefits of warmer and more energy efficient homes.”
Cllr Denning said the Council remained committed to its target of delivering 500 brand new energy efficient Council properties over the next 10 years.
Good progress is currently being made on site for 21 Passivhaus flats at Hamlin Gardens, and work is underway to create 35 new Passivhaus homes at Vaughan Road in Whipton.
She also welcomed the announcement that the award-winning Extra Care facility Edwards Court is now fully operational and occupied. It is thought to be the only care facility in the UK built to the super energy efficient Passivhaus standard.
Cllr Denning said: “This really is a fantastic facility, which is designed for Council tenants, and I am so pleased that it has proved so popular with the residents who live there.
“When tenants move in it often also means that a Council property becomes free for a family in the city. Edwards Court is a great place to live with fantastic care and a great environment and I am so pleased that it is now fully occupied.”
Last year the Council successfully let more than 300 homes via Devon Home Choice.