Making social housing more energy-efficient

A key way in which we’re helping priority groups and vulnerable consumers is through partnerships with housing associations and social landlords – working with them to increase the energy efficiency of their housing stock.

In 2008 we worked with a wide range of partners across the country and we currently have around 60 projects up and running. Partners include Leeds City Council, Birmingham City Council, Stoke-on-Trent Council and many more besides.

As part of this work with social housing schemes, we work with partners to provide funding towards energy efficiency measures like cavity wall, loft insulation and fuel switching (replacing a coal or electric heating system with new gas central heating).

We also provide funding towards:

• solid wall insulation. When a property doesn’t have a cavity to fill, the walls are externally or internally covered with an insulating render
• draught proofing fitted in gaps around draughty window frames. This measure is particularly popular for hard-to-treat properties and flats
• renewable equipment, including ground-source heat pumps
• combined heat and power and district-heating systems.

During 2008, we provided funding for more than 12,000 measures.

Throughout 2009, we’ll continue to build on these numbers as interest grows. We’re already progressing more schemes with other new social housing partners.