Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) meets Cornwall residents in warmer, healthier homes thanks to new central heating.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) met with residents in St Just and Redruth on Thursday 7th April. The residents explained to DECC officials how they are now warmer, have less worries and improved health and well being with new central heating. £2.3m from the Central Heating Fund is being used to install central heating in 376 homes for the first time.
Inclusion Cornwall is part of this partnership, led by Cornwall Council’s Public Health service, which won a bid for the funds back in September 2015. The partnership also includes the Council of Isles of Scilly, Community Energy Plus, Cornwall Housing, DCH, Coastline Housing, Guinness Trust and SSE.
A partnership, led by Cornwall Council’s Public Health service and including Inclusion Cornwall, the Council of Isles of Scilly, Community Energy Plus, Cornwall Housing, DCH, Coastline Housing, Guinness Trust and SSE won a bid for the funds back in September 2015.
The first stop of the visit was to DCH homes at Lafrowda Close in St. Just. They used to rely on expensive night storage heaters and their homes got colder in the evening when they wanted to be warm. They now have Air Source Heat Pumps in 16 homes and the residents can’t believe the difference this has made to their lives, as for the first time they can warm when they want to be.
Six tenants at Coastline Housing’s Edmund Road, Redruth homes welcomed the new heating and being better able to manage their heating for the first time. Some reported their electric use had reduced by half already and with gas, their home was much warmer. Coastline Housing is installing gas central heating in 118 homes with conjunction with Blue Flame.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is in the top 3 for homes without central heating and both are above the England average for fuel poverty.
Energy Minister Lord Bourne said: “We are determined to help hardworking families keep their homes warmer. So we are taking action by backing these innovative projects that will help the people who need it most by focusing on central heating for the first time – cutting bills and keeping homes warmer. Projects, like this one in Cornwall and one in the Isles of Scilly, show how much the Government and local councils can achieve working together to secure a better future for local communities.”
Dr Caroline Court, Interim Director of Cornwall Council’s Public Health team said; “It’s Fantastic to see first-hand that residents are benefitting from being able to stay warm and well, which is improving their health and wellbeing.
“One of the residents is so happy that she no longer has to worry about putting £10 on the key meter. Instead of going to the local shop to do this in the wind and rain with her child she can now just turn on the heating and its warm.”
Mark England, Head of Technical Services at Coastline Housing, said:“Affordable Warmth is essential for our customers. This strategic investment in more efficient heating systems will help customers to make balanced decisions on heating their homes and managing their health in the context of their household income.”
Jonathan Sprague, DCH Director of Asset Management Operations for Cornwall said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this exciting opportunity, which supports our strong commitment to putting customers first and delivering affordable warmth solutions that are efficient and fully controllable for customers, particularly those living in areas without gas mains supply. Its great news that customers in homes that have received this improvement work will now benefit from the efficiency and comfort levels these new heating systems can bring.”