Extra £37 million pledged to make Welsh homes more energy efficient

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Environment

A further £37 million is to be invested by the Welsh Assembly Government to extend its successful Arbed scheme.

The programme works to improve the  energy efficiency  of homes in some of Wales’ poorest areas through the installation of energy saving and  renewable energy generating technology.

Almost 4,000 of the most deprived homes in Wales will benefit from energy efficiency and energy generating technologies such as solid wall insulation solar panels and heat pumps, in a bid to cut fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The investment, which will be made available through the second phase of the Assembly Government's Arbed initiative, will provide a major boost to the low carbon economy and green jobs through increased demand for manufacturing and fitting of energy efficient products.  It will also create training opportunities, as companies who are successful in bidding for work through Arbed funding are contracted to employ locally and deliver 156 training weeks for every £1million of Government funding

Backed with £29 million from the European Regional Development Fund, the programme will be delivered in partnership with local authorities and Welsh Housing Associations.

The first phase of the scheme has already seen 6,000 homes transformed, over 4,500 weeks of training delivered and at least 40 small and medium sized companies have been awarded contracts to deliver the work during this financial year.  

Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: “Wales is leading the way with Arbed and I am delighted that we are able to invest a further £39m in this highly effective programme. The scheme  is all about  investing  in homes in some of Wales' most deprived areas  to make them  much more energy efficient.

“This  will not only help us to tackle fuel poverty and reduce fuel bills for those that need it most , it will also help us to significantly reduce carbon emissions and create new job and training opportunities for people throughout Wales."

Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration Jocelyn Davies said: “Across our regeneration programmes we aim to invest in projects that provide benefits to people, our environment and our economy. Arbed is an excellent example of doing just this. By improving people’s homes we are able to reduce fuel bills, increase local jobs and training opportunities and lower carbon emissions.

“Arbed ties in with our belief that housing is so much more than bricks and mortar. Improving housing is about improving lives and communities and brings a wide range of benefits, opening up new opportunities for people, tackling poverty and inequalities."

The Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “I am delighted that we are able to use European funding to help those who most need it to make their homes more energy efficient.

“Improving energy use in the home is also an important step in the delivery of our Green Jobs Strategy for Wales, developing skilled jobs for local people. In Economic Renewal: a new direction we committed to bringing together our energy efficiency programmes under the Arbed banner. With this announcement we have reached an important implementation milestone. Domestic energy efficiency is a growing industry, and we have the opportunity to position Wales at its forefront through this investment.”

Following this announcement the Welsh Assembly Government will now consult with partners and identify the schemes that will be delivered under the programme in early 2012. The scheme compliments the Fuel Poverty Scheme due to begin on April 1 offering advice and support to fuel poor households.