Neighbourhood watch on heat

Birmingham’s eco-scheme champions energy saving
An award-winning Birmingham City Council scheme is tapping into the power of community action to help homeowners cut energy waste in older properties – starting with the Victorian housing in the Summerfield area.

“The scale of what we’re dealing with here is larger than any other authority, including the London boroughs,” says Birmingham’s head of private sector housing Martin Brook. The Family Housing Association, which manages the scheme, found that the prevalent concern of Summerfield residents was the cost of heating. “They live in some of the poorer housing in the city and may well face difficulty in paying fuel bills,” says Brook. “These properties are failing on heating and insulation.”

Part of the answer lies in insulation, modern appliances, and replacing outdated heating systems with energy-efficient central heating. But the Birmingham scheme, winner of this year’s Corgi UK Energy Efficiency Award in the local authorities category council, doesn’t stop there. Renewable energy technologies play a part too, particularly solar heating panels for hot water. And the council has set up an Eco radio station to advise residents on energy-saving measures.

Brook puts the average cost of the improvements per property at £4,000. By the end of this financial year, 200 properties will have solar panels, he says, and wind turbines will follow. “Our plans are to extend this scheme into other parts of city, and on to public sector properties.”
- Clare Dowdy

13 November 2007