Leading energy company EDF chooses Gentoo

Gentoo has been chosen by EDF Energy, Britain’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, in an exclusive partnership agreement to deliver a proportion of the energy company’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) requirements.

CESP, a programme which was launched in September 2009, will target certain households in low income areas to improve energy efficiency standards and help permanently reduce fuel bills. 

Adopting a whole house, house-by-house, street-by-street approach, EDF Energy will work with Gentoo to develop community-based partnerships and promote energy efficiency solutions.  Under this partnership, 781 homes in the North-east area will be made more energy efficient by installing various insulation and heating measures that will help residents reduce their fuel bills and cut carbon emissions. This partnership will cover a number of areas in Sunderland, all of which are a short distance from EDF Energy’s offices in Doxford. The work is due to commence in the coming months, and is due to be completed by March next year.

Angus Wilby, Head of Energy Services at EDF Energy said: “We are delighted to be working with Gentoo to deliver energy efficiency measures that deliver both CO₂ savings as well as cost savings.

As the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, EDF Energy will contribute around £65m to CESP over the life of the programme. We will continue to make significant contributions towards improving the energy efficiency of low income households, which reflects our commitment to helping our most vulnerable customers reduce their energy bills.

This agreement reaffirms EDF Energy’s commitment to local businesses in the Sunderland area, where we have strong historical ties”

Ian Porter, Managing Director of Gentoo Sunderland said: “Gentoo is delighted to have been appointed by EDF Energy as their chosen delivery partner for the CESP programme we look forward to working with them to ensure the communities selected receive the maximum help possible; both to cut carbon emissions and save money on their fuel bills.

“This is one of the first examples of CESP being put into practice across the whole of the UK – as a Group, we are very grateful of the chance to work in partnership with a household name like EDF Energy. We would never have been able to even contemplate the works without their support and continuous effort.”

Energy suppliers and power generators, such as EDF Energy, contribute to the programme by offering a range of energy efficiency solutions such as solid wall insulation, modern central heating systems and renewable technologies. 

The companies’ targets are defined in terms of a carbon emissions reduction obligation, with each of the qualifying energy efficiency measures attracting a certain ‘carbon score’.

The CESP programme aims to deliver around £350m of energy efficiency packages, reducing energy use and tackling climate change in one fell swoop. It is expected that CESP will benefit around 90,000 households from September 2009 through to December 2012.

If you are a social housing provider or local authority who would like to learn more about CESP and working with EDF Energy please contact Kevin Thomas at Kevin.a.thomas@edfenergy.com

Pictured are: Sally Hancox, Director of Gentoo Green, Ian Porter, Managing Director of Gentoo Sunderland, Kevin Gatens Director of Customer Services at EDF and Dave Piggett, Managing Director of Gentoo Construction.