Southend-on-Sea City Council is excited to announce an ongoing project with the aim of making homes better for people and the environment in response to our changing climate.
A council house in Leigh-on-Sea is in the middle of being retrofitted with energy saving kit that will make the home more comfortable, plus numerous water saving and recycling measures will be installed inside the house and the garden.
All these measures will not only lower energy and water bills, but also deliver environmental improvements such as making more space for wildlife, reducing surface water flooding and improving water quality.
Work is due to be completed by the end of November and the house will open as a show home for three months, so anyone interested in energy and water efficiency and resilience measures can see for themselves the benefits for retrofitting homes.
The benefits of retrofitting include:
- saving energy: by using advanced technology like solar panels, air source heat pump, energy efficient lights, smart thermostats and better insulation, which all help homes use less energy, which means lower energy bills.
- using water more efficiently: by grey water rainwater harvesting, storing and re-use, households can reduce water bills and reduce demand on our limited water supply.
- climate resilient garden: plants chosen have a low water requirement and are pollinator friendly.
- eco-friendly: the work reduces the carbon footprint of the house, as it uses less energy.
Cllr Meg Davidson, cabinet member for environment, said: “This is an innovative idea that will demonstrate beyond doubt to all, that the short-term pain of having building work done, leads to the long-term gain of lower energy and water bills.
“As a society we are much more climate conscious and it's time for our homes to reflect that. We're always going to need energy and water for our creature comforts, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the planet, or our wallets.”
The house will be a show home until early 2024 and then it will go to a family on the council housing waiting list.
The funding for the project has come from Southend-on-Sea City Council and Catchment to Coast are funding the garden and water saving measures.
Just over 100 other council owned homes will also be retrofitted as the council progresses work with South Essex Homes and Morgan Sindall on the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund project which is part funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Those homes eligible will be contacted directly, as the oldest and most in need are assessed first and then booked in to be retrofitted with the measures most suited to the house's need.
Cllr David Garston, cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “With the rising cost of living, retrofitting is essentially future proofing the council's housing stock and creating resilience in our homes to make sure they are there for people who need it, for decades to come.
“While we're sure this will create a lot of public interest from those who want to have their homes retrofitted, we only have budget for the 110 homes and will be reaching out to those we think will benefit most from the scheme, based on our records. Although we hope to be in a position to fit further homes in the future, please do not contact the council or South Essex Homes directly about it.”
If you are a private landlord who wishes to view the show home please keep your eyes peeled for further information.