Home Energy Conservation Plan under scrutiny
St Albans City and District Council’s performance under the District’s Home Energy Conservation Plan 2015-27 was scrutinised by the Local
Services Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 4 June.
A plan of action to help reduce energy consumption across all homes in the District was agreed by the Council in 2015.
It sets out what steps the Council needs to take to improve the energy efficiency of its housing stock. It also requires the Council to provide residents with advice and information about national energy-saving schemes, like Green Deal, that help them make improvements to their homes. In addition, the plan recognises the role of the Council as the local planning authority in ensuring new buildings are energy efficient.
Every two years, the Council’s progress under the plan is scrutinised.
At a meeting on 4 June, the Committee heard that various steps have been taken to make council housing more energy efficient. This has resulted in an average SAP (Standard Procedure for the Energy Rating of Dwellings) rating on Council housing stock of 69. Ratings range between one and 100, with the highest being the most efficient.
Improvements to council housing include:
• Replacing boilers with more energy-efficient models in 852 council homes in the last two years.
• Topping up loft insulation to 249 pitched roofs in 2013/14 and replacing 170 pitched roofs in 2014/15.
• Installing low energy lighting in kitchens, bathrooms and the communal areas for 1,325 properties in 2013/14.
• Replacing single glazed windows with double glazing in 705 properties in the last two years.
• Installing solar photovoltaic panels to Thomas Sparrow House which is in the process of being refurbished.
The committee heard that a stock condition survey is also being undertaken by the housing department. This information will be used to update the
ongoing work programme to improve council housing. As part of this, the Council is looking to replace all single glazed windows with double glazing
unless this is unviable. For example, properties in a conservation area may be fitted with secondary glazing instead.
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair, Local Services Scrutiny Committee for St Albans City and District Council, SAID: “The Committee was
interested to hear that lots of work is being done by the Council to improve the energy efficiency of council homes. This is good news for tenants
who will be able to use less fuel to heat their homes, helping them to save money. The Council is also publicising the ways that home owners can
improve the energy-efficiency of their own properties through schemes such as Green Deal. If people install cavity wall and roof insulation, double
glazing and modern boilers this should help them reduce their energy consumption and fuel bills.”
Tips on reducing energy use, managing energy bills and information on grants to help people make homes more energy efficient are available on
the Council’s website. A webcast of the meeting on 4 June can be viewed on the Council’s website. (Please contact Democratic Services if you would like to see this webcast DemocraticServices@stalbans.gov.uk) The agenda and papers for the meeting website are also available online.
Councillor contact:
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Chair, Local Services Scrutiny Committee for St Albans City and District Council
Mob: 07761232064
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson,
Media and Internal Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
The Local Services Scrutiny Committee scrutinises public services provided to residents in St Albans District and issues about the area.