Nottingham Council pilots 150 carbon neutral homes

Nottingham City Council is the first local authority to adopt Energiesprong, a Netherlands-based approach that makes homes more energy-efficient. 

Energiesprong involves upgrading homes with new outside walls and windows, a solar roof and a new heating system.

According to the council, this ‘whole-house’ refurbishment is guaranteed to ensure that the homes are completely net-zero energy in their energy performance.

The upgrades will therefore significantly reduce energy bills and make homes warmer and healthier for residents.

Nottingham City Council has been piloting this approach on 150 of its Nottingham City Homes properties thanks to £6m worth of funding from the EU.

Last week (November 18) Nottingham City Homes was declared to be the Local Authority Initiative of the Year at the Energy Awards in London.

Cllr Sally Longford, the city councils portfolio holder for energy and environment said: ‘It’s a great achievement to have won this award and a testament to the innovation and commitment that the Council and Nottingham City Homes have shown to make real progress in the reduction of carbon emissions from our housing stock.’

‘Other councils and housing providers are now beginning to follow our lead and the Energiesprong approach is gathering momentum across the country.’

‘Large housing providers have a really important part to play in not only reducing emissions of our own stock but also kick-starting a revolution in the UK’s construction sector to make ultra-low energy homes affordable to all.’

‘As well as stepping up to our environmental responsibilities, many of our residents live in fuel poverty so creating more energy-efficient homes to reduce people’s energy bills is a high priority for us.’

‘We’re very excited that Nottingham is at the forefront of this revolutionary approach, which can help tackle both fuel poverty and climate change.’

In related news, a new ‘floating’ modular home built on water has been designed as a response to climate change and the affordable housing crisis.

Photo Credit – Pixabay