£1.6m project to make Oldham homes more energy efficient

Over 200 homes are involved in the project

More than two hundred homes in Oldham are set to receive energy efficiency improvements, thanks to a new £1.6m investment project which launched this month.
 
The programme of green upgrades has been made possible with a £1million grant from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The properties are owned by local housing association, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO).
 
FCHO has also contributed £600k to the scheme that is set to improve the performance of some of its least energy efficient homes across the borough.
 
Measures will be tailored to each property involved in the project, and potential improvements include; cavity wall, loft and party wall insulations, new windows and doors, and solar panels.
 
The work, which will be undertaken between now and March 2023, is set to bring homes up to a minimum of Energy Performance Certificate Band C. In doing so, households could potentially see a 30% reduction on their energy bills and save a combined 225 tonnes of carbon per year going forward - the equivalent of planting 9,000 trees a year.
 
Over the next five years, FCHO will be retrofitting energy efficiency measures to a further 3,800 homes to help the organisation reach net zero carbon targets, tackle fuel poverty and ensure it provides warm, safe, sustainable housing.
 
Steve Mather, FCHO Director of Assets and Sustainability said: "This project is an important milestone in our sustainability journey and provides a blueprint for how we will improve the energy efficiency of many more of our homes. With rising utility bills and the increasing cost of living, helping customers to reduce energy use and save money is more important than ever.
 
"Housing providers have a unique opportunity to help reduce the country's carbon emissions to net zero. By upgrading social homes to be more energy efficient and finding greener ways of working, we can make a significant difference to our customers and communities now and in years to come."

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