National recognition for Calderdale home improvement scheme

A Calderdale Council home improvement scheme, in partnership with Better Homes Yorkshire and Eclipse Energy, has received a special commendation at the National Energy Efficiency Awards.

The National Energy Efficiency Awards highlight numerous projects and companies across the country that are upgrading existing buildings or installing renewable energy measures. The event in Birmingham attracted hundreds of leading figures in the rapidly growing ‘green’ industry.

Calderdale Council, Eclipse Energy and Better Homes Yorkshire received a special commendation for Insulation and Fabric Project of the Year, recognising their recent attic room insulation work in low-income housing.

At the end of 2021, The Council had completed energy improvement work to over 350 attic rooms, in partnership with Better Homes Yorkshire and thanks to funding from the Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme. The work, which initially began with 160 properties in 2019, has a lifetime CO2 saving of almost 17,000 tonnes. The savings equate to taking over 3500 cars off the road for one year and will see a reduction of over £3 million in local residents’ energy bills.

Installation of the renewable energy measures has been led by local energy saving experts Eclipse Energy. This scheme, like others in Bradford and York, has led to significant growth within the company, who now employ 100 full time staff.

Managing Director, Mark Bannister, commented: “It’s fantastic that Calderdale Council and our partners at Better Homes Yorkshire have been recognised for the hard work done in the region over the past year. This scheme has been one of the most successful in the country and has led to significant savings on emissions and energy bills for the most vulnerable in our community”.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, Cllr Scott Patient, said: “This scheme has supported hundreds of residents to make their homes healthier, warmer and more energy efficient. This has also helped make their homes cheaper to heat– something which is incredibly important with the continued rise in energy bills and the cost of living.

“I’m delighted that this important work has received national recognition and we look forward to helping many more residents benefit from this scheme as part of the next phase of this work.”

Applications are now open for the next phase of the scheme which will offer free insulation for low homes on low incomes and which have low energy performance certificates. The next phase of the scheme will run until March 2023. Interested applicants are urged to visit www.betterhomesyorkshire.co.uk/calderdale or call on 0800 597 1500.