Residents and sustainability experts have praised an ongoing decarbonisation drive in North Yorkshire with hundreds of families benefiting from energy-saving upgrades.
A range of improvements have been rolled out at social and privately-owned homes worst affected by problems such as poor-quality insulation and ineffective heating.
Councillors have pledged to continue to support residents by keeping their homes warm and driving down energy bills with a range of further upgrades set to be rolled out over the next three years.
Executive member for housing, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “Some of our most vulnerable residents live in the worst-insulated and most expensive-to-heat properties in the county.
“That’s why it’s crucial we continue to improve the energy efficiency of our social and privately-owned homes. By doing so, we not only help to protect the environment but also reduce the amount of money that residents pay on their heating.
“Housing is estimated to be responsible for 19 per cent of carbon emissions across North Yorkshire, so considering how we heat our homes and upgrading their levels of insulation is an easy way to make a real and tangible difference to residents’ lives.”
Kirkby Fleetham resident David Fielding is among those to have recently benefited from the energy-saving rollout after applying to us.
After previously heating his home with oil, the 73-year-old is now a proud advocate for cleaner energy with an air source heat pump installed in August 2024.
Ten solar panels were also added onto his roof and the loft insulation bolstered, with the project funded by the Government’s Home Upgrade Grant.
David said: “Instead of with oil or gas where the temperatures fluctuate considerably, my house now stays at a more ambient temperature throughout and the heat is more evenly distributed.
“I researched it all, found out I was eligible and thought ‘why not?’. The physical work was all done in under a week with minimum disruption. It was so slick and efficient – those who completed the works knew exactly what they were doing and they were so professional.
“I’m optimistic and would tell anybody the same – just research the whole thing, it’s proven. I’ve got rid of all the oil, all the dirty stuff and there’s no emissions – it’s clean. In addition to all that, it probably increases the value of the house too – it’s been wonderful.”
Sustainability experts from Salix Finance, the Government-owned body responsible for overseeing a number of national retrofit schemes, recently visited North Yorkshire to learn more about the council’s approach and how residents are benefiting.
Funding for these schemes is delivered on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
They met senior officers and councillors along with representatives from Align Property Partners, the council-owned building design consultancy, whose architects, engineers and award-winning sustainability team are helping to deliver the energy-saving upgrades.
Salix director of housing, Paul Hill, said: “It was fantastic to meet with representatives from North Yorkshire Council and Align Property Partners to discuss how they are delivering energy efficiency retrofit works across the county.
“It’s clear that government funding schemes - such as the Home Upgrade Grant - play a critical role in enabling these retrofit programmes to be delivered at scale and with pace.”
We have applied for fresh funding through the Government’s warm homes local grant and social housing fund which would allow the rollout of further energy-saving upgrades across North Yorkshire over the next three years.
Managing director of Align, Ron Walton, said: “We are passionate about sustainability and this ongoing collaborative work alongside our colleagues at North Yorkshire Council has been praised on a national level.
“This is an exciting time and we are looking forward to delivering these energy-saving upgrades in the homes of residents who need it most.
“It’s great to hear feedback from residents who have been delighted with the improvements made to their homes, and subsequent savings on their energy bills. That will continue to inspire us as we press ahead with this important work.”