Why homes will feel a warm glow this winter

Nov 18 2008 by Francesca Craggs, The Journal

GATESHEAD Housing Company has teamed up with a North East organisation which specialises in fighting fuel poverty to help create warmer and more environmentally friendly homes in the winter for residents of two Gateshead estates.

Community Energy Solutions (CES) work to install gas connections or renewable technologies within communities, giving them clean, cost effective and reliable heating systems for their homes.

A mixture 155 tenanted and owner occupied households in Millbeck Gardens, Lyndhurst and Chichester Close, Shipcote, have been identified to be provided with a gas supply.

The project in Lyndhurst began at the start of September and is now complete, leaving residents with a more affordable energy source helping them to beat the rising cost of heating their homes.

The project whereby Shipcote was having gas installed was due for completion by the beginning of November.

Bill Fullen, chief executive of Gateshead Housing Company, said: “When this scheme was first introduced we received a great response from the residents of Gateshead Housing Company. Living costs are continuing to rise and organisations such as CES are desperately needed to help vulnerable households. With a gas connection now available houses will be receiving lower fuel bills instead of using expensive and environmentally unfriendly fuel sources, such as coal, electricity or oil.”

The Decent Homes Programme was announced in 2001 by the Government and it is investing £40bn to reach 3.6 million homes in the UK. Decent Homes work is being be carried out in the Shipcote area from October this year until May 2009. This has allowed housing companies such as Gateshead Housing Company to apply for funding and work with an organisation like CES to improve living conditions in residential areas.

This scheme mirrors Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s announcement addressing fuel poverty and unveiling plans for a £1bn package to help families pay their soaring bills, which follows a National Housing Federation report suggesting that almost a quarter of people will be in fuel poverty by next year.

CES is a non profit distributing company, which has been set up with funding from BERR and One North East with support from National Grid Affordable Warmth Project. The company aims to deliver affordable warmth measures to disadvantaged communities across the North East.

For more information visit www.communityenergysolutions.org.uk.