Free electricity in Ealing
March 2011
West London householder Ursula Woodward is looking forward to lower electricity bills thanks to a local initiative to fit free solar PV panels.
Launched by the London Borough of Ealing, in partnership with green services provider Eaga, almost 50 residents have benefited so far – and more are in line for the renewable energy upgrade.
(From left to right) Alistair Booth, Eaga, Ursula Woodward, householder, Hitesh Tailor, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for Housing and Matt Woodward, Mrs Woodward’s grandson
The offer has been made possible through Eaga’s Clean Energy Programme, which provides social housing tenants with free solar PV systems. These generate electricity which can be used in the home, typically helping people save up to a third on energy bills.
Showing the system off to Councillor Hitesh Tailor, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for Housing, Mrs Woodward said: “Whenever there is daylight it’s great to know the electricity I use around the house is free and that the meter isn’t moving. At the same time it’s good to be doing something positive for the environment. The whole process was also very quick and the installers from Eaga left no mess and explained everything to me."
Councillor Tailor added: "We are always looking to develop our reputation as a green borough and we are delighted to be working with Eaga to bring these facilities to our tenants. It benefits us all by helping to lower our carbon footprint as a borough and by helping residents to save money on their bills".
Alistair Booth, from Eaga, said: “As the move to low carbon living gathers pace across London it is crucial that we make it as affordable and socially inclusive as possible. Our Clean Energy Programme is a key part of this process and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Ealing and look forward to helping many more of their residents save money on fuel bills and cut their C02 emissions.”
The photovoltaic (PV) solar panels generate electricity which can be used in the home, helping people save up to a third on their energy bills, while surplus energy is fed back into the national grid.
Eaga’s Clean Energy Programme works by utilising the feed-in-tariff (FIT), which provides an income from electricity generated domestically.
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Notes to Editors
1. Eaga is a green support services and outsourcing company and a leader in the provision of outsourced services, products and solutions that address the environmental and social objectives of Government and the private sector. Eaga’s key market drivers are centred on climate change and social inclusion.
2. Eaga is the UK’s largest residential energy efficiency provider. Working in partnership with central and local Government, utility companies and other commercial organisations, eaga operates across the UK and in the republic of Ireland, India and Canada, employing around 5,000 people.
3. Eaga was established in 1990 as a private limited company to lead Government-funded efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people living in cold, damp and energy inefficient homes across England. In 2000, the company was restructured to become a 100% employee-owned business.