Pictured above: (l-r) SBGI's Stuart Godfrey; whg's Mark
Bird; Mark Kelly, of BDR Thermea; Charles Hendry MP, Minister of
State for Energy & Climate Change; whg's Cliff Horrocks and
Phil Brown, of IGEM
The gas industry has hailed Midlands' housing provider whg as
the nation's energy efficiency champion.
Energy Minister Charles Hendry MP presented whg with the energy
efficiency award at the SBGI/IGEM Gas Industry Awards held in
London.
Cliff Horrocks, whg's Director of Asset Management, and Services
and Eco Manager Mark Bird attended the ceremony to accept the award
on behalf of the affordable housing provider, which owns around
19,000 homes.
Cliff said: "It's quite a coup to have the gas industry
recognise whg as we are outside the sector. We are very pleased to
have our work celebrated at this level and by industry
professionals."
whg was nominated for its pioneering work in Blakenall, Walsall,
where it improved the energy efficiency of 147 homes through
measures including loft insulation, wall cladding and new boilers.
Each house received £12,000 worth of investment.
The project was the first in the country to be carried out under
the national community energy savings programme (CESP) and was a
three way partnership between whg, British Gas and Walsall
Council.
The estate, in one of the most deprived areas of England, has
been visibly lifted by the internal and external improvements to
the homes.
The properties' Standard Assessment Procedure, which measures
energy and environmental performance, has increased from 49 to 72
since the work was completed and residents will save up to
£450 per year on energy bills.
Mark Bird said: "Members of the community now benefit from some
of the best insulated and most attractive homes in the area -
reflected in the 91% satisfaction rate.
"The programme has been an overwhelming success in uplifting the
whole community, driving down residents' fuel bills and reducing
the carbon footprint of the homes."
Ruth Hale, community manager for British Gas, said: "We are
proud to work with whg to help vulnerable communities install
energy saving measures which will improve the quality of people's
home comfort and reduce their fuel consumption.
"Projects like these are groundbreaking and we look forward to
working with whg to continue the pioneering work."