Birmingham eco-homes helping to cut fuel bills for city's poorest

A Birmingham-based eco partnership has rolled out its award-winning project to the deprived South Lozells area of the city, helping residents living in fuel poverty to significantly reduce their fuel bills.

The South Lozells Eco Scheme, which is being delivered by Family Housing Association thanks to funding from Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder Urban Living, has seen 26 low income owner-occupier homes in the area fitted with solar panel hot water systems and energy efficient boilers.

In addition, 60 households in the area received a visit from the housing association’s ‘green doctor’ who offers advice on ways to save energy and in turn cut fuel bills.

In total, 1,500 homes have benefited from ‘green’ information packs on recycling, water conservation and other eco issues. The packs also included the provision of free energy saving light bulbs.

The improvements, which are worth up to £6,500 per home, are designed to help tackle fuel poverty by reducing fuel bills and making the homes more energy efficient.

The project follows on from the success of Birmingham’s first eco village in Summerfield, which won the public sector category at the National Energy Efficiency Awards last year. This £2.3 million programme involved 329 owner-occupiers receiving free environmentally-friendly improvements to their homes.

The eco partnership, which consisted of the local residents’ association, Family Housing Association, Birmingham City Council, Urban Living and New World Solar was commended for its partnership working.

South Lozells resident Yasmeen Akhtar, a mother of two who lives in Burbury Street, said: “We had solar panels fitted to the roof of our house after qualifying for the retrofit and we were delighted to be selected, especially as the cost of energy has risen so much recently.

“The best thing about having the panels is that when it’s sunny outside, we get hot water for free so the real benefits are felt over the summer months and that’s why we’re glad they were fitted beforehand.

“Another benefit is that we’re helping the environment and we are grateful to the green doctor for his hints and tips on saving energy.”

The programme harnesses renewable energy through the installation of solar panels and has provided training and employment opportunities for local people through placements made available by Birmingham-based company New World Solar.

Keith Budden, environmental partnership manager at Be Birmingham – one of the partner agencies, said: “It’s great that this project, which was so successful in the Summerfield area, has now been expanded to Lozells. Birmingham is well on the way to becoming the UK’s first sustainable city and this partnership working is helping us to achieve that.”

Tim Sewell, chief executive of Family Housing Association, added: “An independent evaluation proves the positive impact the project has already had in the Summerfield area and more than 1,700 people have visited the project from across the country in order to learn from the scheme.

“We are delighted to have been able to expand the scheme into Lozells, helping more people to benefit from renewable technology and cut down on their fuel bills.”

Steve Lilley, director of programme and performance for Urban Living, said: “This is a great example of eco-regeneration which has seen the transformation of old Victorian properties back into much-needed, large eco-friendly family homes.”

The project cost £107,000 and residents were selected individually based on need. The criteria for those selected meant they had to be owner-occupiers, with an annual household income of less than £21,000, or were spending at least 10 per cent of their income on fuel.

Last year Birmingham’s residents, businesses and the private sector saved over 100,000 tonnes of CO2. The partnership says that with more projects like this it will hit carbon targets, reduce energy costs and help develop skills and jobs in the future.

Be Birmingham (www.bebirmingham.org.uk) is the local strategic partnership for Birmingham which brings together the public, private, voluntary, faith and community sectors to deliver a better Birmingham.