Solihull’s housing service wins top energy efficiency award

Released:

Solihull Community Housing – which runs Solihull Council’s housing service - has just been awarded the ‘Regional Housing Association or Landlord of the Year’ in the prestigious West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards.

This award is designed to recognise the commitment a housing organisation has shown to improve the energy efficiency of their properties and to improve the welfare and quality of life of their tenants.

This year has seen Solihull Community Housing (SCH) create seven new net zero carbon bungalows that reflect the commitment, jointly held with Solihull Council, to create a net zero future for the borough.

The Energy Efficiency Awards also reflects a wider day to day commitment to energy efficiency, demonstrated through a range of work programmes and energy related advice.

Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing, Cllr Andy Mackiewicz, said:

“We are committed to reducing the borough’s CO2 emissions to net zero by 2041 and we are developing a Net Zero Action Plan. The creation of seven new net zero carbon bungalows demonstrates in real, practical ways, how to marry up combatting climate change and helping people to heat their homes more cheaply.

“I am tremendously proud of the work undertaken by our housing service and pleased that it has been recognised with this award.”

SCH chief executive Fiona Hughes, said:

“We are delighted to receive this award which is a reflection of our commitment to creating energy efficient homes and communities. This is also shown by our involvement with the national Affordable Warmth and Green Home schemes such as LADS2 and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

“All of this important work plays a key role in addressing issues of fuel poverty which still remain in some parts of the borough.”

In winning the regional West Midlands award, SCH will now go forward to the National Energy Efficiency Awards which are due to be held in Birmingham in February 2022.

 

Background:

Solihull Community Housing (SCH) is the Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) set up in April 2004 to run the housing service on behalf of Solihull Council. Solihull Council owns the properties and the housing services are delivered by SCH.

Recognising the scale of the climate emergency, Solihull Council has set the aspiration of reducing the Borough’s CO2 emissions to net zero by 2041.

As part of Solihull’s commitment to achieve net zero, the council is developing a Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP).  To find out more visit - https://netzerosolihull.co.uk/