Social housing association Citizen – a CIOB training partner (TP) – is working with Coventry City Council and the Department for Energy and Net Zero on a social housing decarbonisation project in the city.
Launched in 2022, the One Coventry Plan is a vision for the city around tackling inequality, economic prosperity and climate change. It also sits at the heart of the council’s net zero strategy. Now in Wave 2, the £67.6m programme is partly funded by the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The latest scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency of various solid-walled property archetypes, reducing energy costs for nearly 1,600 people, along with CO2 emissions.
The Wave 2.1 project began in September 2023. It entails installing multiple decarbonisation measures, all in accordance with the PAS 2030/2035 standards.
Adhering to best practice and a fabric-first approach, it includes improving the thermal performance of the homes by installing external wall insulation and fitting energy-efficient double-glazed doors and windows. Some properties are also benefiting from loft insulation.
The aim is for every property to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C by the time the project ends in 2025.
Over 2,000 homes have already reported benefits and Citizen is researching energy improvements it hopes to build upon in Wave 3.
Adam Denny, asset and planning manager for Citizen, said: “We’re already looking at the opportunities that Wave 3 will bring, looking at solutions for all sorts of other property types with a broader range of measures and over a longer delivery period to deliver at scale.”