£400+
13
THE CHALLENGE
The Sheffield LEAD partnership led by the ENAble Warmer Homes, was awarded £257,000 of funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in August 2023 to help retrofit Right To Buy (RTB) properties to make them more sustainable.
Sheffield Local Energy Advice Demonstration (LEAD) – a consortium made up of Efficiency North, led through EN:Able Warmer Homes, Sheffield City Council and Groundwork (Yorkshire) – used the funding to provide energy efficiency assessments for homeowners and private renters across 8 estates in Sheffield.
This approach enabled residents who would ordinarily have missed out on energy efficiency measures undertaken on the council owned properties in their estates were able to receive detailed energy advice and signposting to a variety of energy efficiency measures for their homes.
Objectives
The primary goals of the project were:
- To improve the condition and energy efficiency of homes in Sheffield.
- To provide homeowners and private rented tenants with valuable insights and advice on improving their home energy efficiency.
- To offer guidance on available funding for necessary home upgrades.
Energy Assessment Details
Each energy assessment, valued at over £400, included:
- A comprehensive retrofit assessment.
- Personalised advice on funding opportunities.
- Practical tips for improving energy efficiency.
Outcomes
Post-assessment, several customers implemented changes:
- Installing radiator foils and setting radiator valves lower in unused rooms.
- Using thermometers to monitor children’s room temperatures.
- Correctly fitting loft insulation and ensuring proper air circulation to prevent mould.
- Lowering boiler settings to more efficient levels.
- Adding silicone to window frames to prevent drafts.
- Installing low energy light bulbs.
- Making minor repairs to roof tiles
Partnerships and Implementation
EN:Able Warmer Homes was coordinated by EN:Able Communities in collaboration with Sheffield City Council, Groundwork Yorkshire and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. The Green Doctor Team from Groundwork Yorkshire conducted the home assessments, providing practical advice that many customers have since applied.
WANT TO WORK WITH US BUT NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
THE PROJECTS OBJECTIVES
Thirteen customers received comprehensive assessments, with all reporting high satisfaction. Many benefitted from low-level energy efficiency measures, such as heated blankets and oil-filled radiators. Additionally, customers received advice on reducing damp, mould, and condensation in their homes.
“The assessment was crucial to understand our home’s energy efficiency status, identify improvements, and explore potential grants. The advice was really helpful. We’ve now installed low-energy light bulbs and are preparing to add insulation in the attic. Now we have our Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that we can use moving forward to improve things in our home.
Cheryl | Resident
“I had bought my council house recently and it was really cold and very important for me to find ways to improve this. After struggling to source my own funding, the support from EN:Able Warmer Homes was invaluable. The thorough assessment was very useful and identified issues like improperly installed loft insulation, which the original company rectified upon the assessor’s findings. I am also now more aware of the importance of getting fresh air circulating in the house to prevent black mould.”
Alison | Resident
EN:Procure
EN:Able Futures
EN:Able Build
EN:Able Communities