Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has identified its three schemes under the new Community Energy Savings Program (CESP), under which energy suppliers and electricity generators will have to install energy efficiency measures in lower-income areas.
Under the new scheme, SSE will work with South Tyneside Homes across a number of local areas in England. The project involves variety of measures including external insulation of homes, new heating systems and also some micro generation technologies.
In Scotland, SSE will work with Glasgow Housing Association at the Wingets project in Carntyne to install external solid wall insulation and loft insulation to both housing association and owner-occupier properties.
In Wales, SSE will work in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area of South Wales, surveying homes for a program of energy saving measures. Homes across all tenure types are being assessed so that benefits occur to as many of these dwellings as possible in the area, under the ‘whole house’ approach, the company said.
Work on all three schemes is expected to begin by summer 2010. Around 2,500 properties across the three schemes are expected to benefit from measures, which are estimated to save over 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
The company claimed the program could help households to save up to GBP400 a year on their energy bill. CESP’s ‘whole house’ approach combined with other energy saving measures, could lead to savings exceeding GPB600 a year, the company added.
SSE expects to come up with another 15 CESP schemes across England, Scotland and Wales by the end of June.
Ian Marchant, CEO of SSE, said: “Using energy efficiently is the fastest and most cost-effective way of reducing people’s energy costs, sustaining supplies for the long term and cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.
“These three schemes are just the first of many across the country which will help to transform homes and communities.”