Council moves forward with a range of new energy efficiency measures

Chichester District Council is progressing a package of new measures designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes and buildings across the district.

At a Cabinet meeting this week, leading councillors agreed to recommend to Full Council that new actions aimed at improving the energy performance and carbon footprint of properties are adopted. A final decision will be made in May this year.

If this is approved, one of the projects proposed would look to improve the energy efficiency of Westward House, which delivers part of the council's short stay accommodation, including upgrading its current heating system. This project would build on work that is already underway to increase the energy efficiency of other council-owned buildings.

In addition to this project, the council has announced that it has secured another round of Government funding to help residents install energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in their homes. The roll-out of this funding is currently being developed and more information will be available soon.

"Over a quarter of a million pounds of funding has already been awarded to residents in the Chichester District over the last two years to help make their homes more energy efficient, and it's fantastic that we will be able to continue to help people save money and do their bit for the environment through this new grant funding," says Cllr Penny Plant, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Chichester Contract Services at Chichester District Council.

"Making sure your home is well-insulated can make a huge impact on both the environment and your energy bill. We will be able to share more information about this new funding soon, but in the meantime it's worth contacting our delivery partners to find out what is currently available to help with measures such as loft, floor and wall installation, and for air-source heat pumps and Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that cut your carbon emissions. 

Councillor Alan Sutton, Cabinet Member for Communications, Licensing and Events, adds: "In May, Full Council will consider a recommendation made by Cabinet this week to invest in measures that will increase the energy performance of part of the council's short stay accommodation. The improvements could include replacing the heating units with more efficient storage heaters and installing thermal insulation. This work would not only make the homes warmer for tenants but would also reduce energy usage and ongoing maintenance costs. We would also be looking to see whether additional measures such as smart hot water heaters and LED lighting can also be installed.

"Earlier this month, the council expanded its short stay accommodation at Freeland Close to further support residents who are facing homelessness. We're very proud of the eco credentials of this new building. Energy efficient storage heaters have been installed, as well as solar panels to generate renewable electricity, which will be used to supply electricity to communal areas and sell to the grid to help reduce the running costs of the building."

All of this work forms part of the council's Climate Emergency Action Plan, which sets out a target of a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions year on year until 2025 for both the council and for the district as a whole.

Penny explains: "We are already making great strides with the projects outlined within our action plan, and the work underway to continue improving home energy efficiency is another huge step forward in our fight to tackle climate change.

"Hopefully you will have seen our new 'Love Your Home, Protect Our World' campaign, which aims to inform residents about making their homes more energy efficient. 

"From investing in electric refuse collection vehicles and working to improve the energy efficiency within council buildings, to safeguarding a series of wildlife corridors across the district and increasing tree planting within the district, the council is progressing a number of major projects to help reduce carbon emissions within its own work and across the district over the coming months and years."