More green on the Isle of Wight
January 2011
MP and green energy specialist Dr Alan Whitehead has praised Southern Housing Group Ltd and Eaga for running a scheme to help tenants cut fuel bills and carbon emissions.
Dr Alan Whitehead MP with Clean Energy Programme customer Brenda Clews-Cartwright
The Clean Energy Programme developed by green services provider Eaga provides free solar energy for the Group’s residents on the island.
Homes with the necessary south-facing roofs and the right angle of pitch can have photovoltaic (PV) panels fitted to convert sunlight into electricity. The PV system is then connected to the mains to provide free energy. For the resident it is a simple fit-and-forget process – Eaga technical surveyors and fitters do everything.
As one of the first housing associations to partner with Eaga, the Group has now helped around 310 households through the programme and is taking a lead in the drive to make the Isle of Wight a green island.
During his visit Dr Whitehead, who sits on the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, met representatives from Eaga and Southern Housing Group Ltd.
The MP for Southampton also visited Southern Housing Group residents Paul and Brenda Clews-Cartwright to see what a difference the solar PV panels were making to them.
He said: “As someone with a special interest in clean energy and micro-generation it is encouraging to see first hand how low carbon technology can be used so effectively. I’m grateful to Mr and Mrs Clews-Cartwright for showing me the system in their home and I applaud Southern Housing Group and Eaga for making solar energy so accessible and affordable.”
Brenda Clews-Cartwright added: “The whole install was really quick and clean and we are delighted with the result. We noticed the difference immediately. Our monthly fuel bills used to be around £92, but straight away they went down to £72 and are now as low as £50.”
Paul Wenham, Property Services Director at Southern Housing Group Ltd, said: “It became apparent to us that in some cases our residents were paying very high energy bills and that, combined with the ongoing search for new, cleaner energy, prompted us to begin this project."
“We think the results speak for themselves, and our residents agree that the changes we’ve made have lowered their energy bills."
“The Clean Energy Programme has helped us deliver a better a service to our residents on the Isle of Wight, and I have no doubt that the programme will continue to be a success. We are currently reviewing extending this and other initiatives across the Group.”
John Swinney, Eaga Director added: “Our programme is all about making renewable technology easy, affordable and accessible for all. It’s a fit and forget exercise for the householder and with forward-thinking partners like Southern Housing Group we are now rolling the programme out at scale and making a real difference.”
Eaga’s CEP works by utilising the feed-in-tariff (FIT), which provides an income from electricity generated domestically. While the FIT is received by Eaga and equity partners, the install and maintenance are completely free to the resident and housing provider.
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Notes to Editors
Eaga
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
Southern Housing Group Ltd:
As one of southern England’s largest housing associations, we own and manage 25,000 homes for more than 66,000 residents. We employ more than 900 people and work with more than 70 local authorities.
We provide quality affordable housing and a range of housing options for rent and home ownership
Our mission is to unlock the potential of people and places. We've been doing this since 1901, when our founder Samuel Lewis bequeathed £670,000 (equivalent to £30 million today) to provide housing for the poor. We achieve this by:
• Developing quality, affordable housing
• Improving the neighbourhoods where our residents live
• Developing a range of rent and home ownership opportunities
• Investing in our staff, our residents and our legacy