Birmingham City Council has retrofitted around a quarter of the homes identified as part of an ambitious project to make council homes greener, warmer and more energy efficient.
Around 550 homes have been improved so far as part of plans to retrofit over 2,000 properties by September 2025, part funded by the social housing decarbonisation fund.
Energy and regeneration expert Equans is working in partnership with the council to retrofit 1,600 of the 2,000 homes in the scheme. They are installing a bespoke combination of improvements dependent on each property’s needs.
Solar panels are being installed at some properties so residents can generate their own electricity to help reduce energy costs. Walls and lofts have been insulated to keep out warm air in summer and keep in warm air in winter, reducing reliance on expensive heating systems.
New ventilation systems are being installed to help airflow and keep temperatures comfortable, helping to reduce the likelihood of damp and mould occurring.
Testing at the homes shows that retrofitted properties now have an Energy Performance Certificate of at least a C, with some reaching an A rating - the most energy efficient rating available.
Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: 'It's estimated that the average bill savings for tenants in these retrofitted homes will be £1,100 per year.
'Our housing stock is a significant producer of carbon emissions in the city. The homes on this scheme will save an estimated 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per property per year, which is around 315 tonnes of CO2 saved per year.
'This is just the start of our retrofit plans. We want all our tenants to live in warm, safe, sustainable homes. We are investing £1.4 bn in the next eight years in our council homes to ensure all our homes meet decent home standards.'
Dave Parry, operations director at Equans, said: 'We're pleased to be supporting the council in making its net zero carbon ambitions a reality, whilst also improving the homes of hundreds of residents.
'This scheme is a great example of how a holistic, whole-house approach to retrofit can have a really significant impact – both on the energy performance of a home and the comfort of those who live there.'
