National Energy Action project wins top award

A National Energy Action (NEA) project designed to help people who live in park homes – static caravans that are lived in all the year round - stay warm and pay their fuel bills during the winter months has been recognised with a national award.

NEA’s Park Homes Campaign won the Key Project category of the Micropower Awards 2009 at a ceremony held last night. The judging panel described the project as “outstanding”.

NEA carried out a number of pilot projects at park home sites in Nottinghamshire and Peterborough that involved fitting specialist heat pumps and lightweight insulation systems. The project was funded by Scottish and Southern Energy, Heatking and Mould Growth Consultants.

The work saw one couple reduce their fuel bill from £40 to £14 per week, lifting them out of fuel poverty.

There are more than 2,000 park homes sites across the country, housing around 250,000 people.

People living in park homes often have to rely on expensive liquid petroleum gas and the homes themselves are often poorly insulated. Residents also often have fixed and low incomes and the homes themselves do not qualify for Government assistance under the Warm Front scheme.

NEA chief executive Jenny Saunders said: “Our work with people who live in park homes is a great example of how NEA can really make a difference. I’m delighted that we’ve been recognised with this prestigious award and would like to thank our sponsors for their support.”

Following the success of the pilot project, NEA raised the issue with local MPs and is now lobbying for changes to the Warm Front Scheme to include park homes.

The charity has also teamed up with a private sector business to encourage the development of an innovative new insulation system to help people keep their park homes warm and use less energy.