A new project between OVO Energy Solutions and Cornwall Council is to see 400 poorly insulated homes retrofitted with measures such as solar and heat pumps.
The whole-house retrofits of the off-gas grid homes will focus on the fabric of the houses first before installations of “the right technology”, OVO said.
Across the 400 homes, OVO is to deliver around 1,000 whole-house retrofit measures, including wall, cavity and loft insulation, underfloor insulation, draught proofing, air source heat pumps, high retention storage heaters, solar PV and double glazing.
Through these installations, the homes will be upgraded to an EPC band of C or D, helping to keep homes warm and reduce energy bills.
Energy efficiency is increasingly being touted as part of the solution to high household energy bills across the country as a result of the increase in power prices seen since late summer 2021.
It is expected that bills will rise once again in the autumn, with Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley stating the energy price cap could rise to £2,800.
“Now, more than ever, the projects are critical to supporting households during the cost of living crisis while also bringing down the carbon footprint of the home,” Raman Bhatia, CEO of OVO, said.
OVO Energy Solutions is also working in partnership with Cornwall Council and Cornwall Housing to deliver the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator project in Falmouth to 45 Cornish Units.
This project, funded by the government through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, is focused on reducing heat loss in the homes through installing low-carbon and sustainable materials. Having launched in February, it is due to be completed in July.
Earlier this year, the government announced £179 million in funding as part of the wider £3.8 billion Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
“By working with leading local authorities and housing associations, we’ve unlocked a huge opportunity to create greener, more energy-efficient homes for those people who live in draughty homes and will benefit from lower energy bills,” Bhatia said.
