CLIMATE ACTION
Watch a video to find out more on the project , and how Energiesprong works , at aroundealing . com / news / retrofit
A home nearby whose owner has done their own extensive retrofit is funding more than half of the project in South Ealing with an investment of £ 3.4million , while grant funding has been secured from a variety of sources for the rest . The hope is to secure more money from the government to do much more – because at least 5,000 of the council ’ s properties have been identified as being suitable . That is a third of the council ’ s housing stock .
GOOD FOR CLIMATE , GOOD FOR TENANTS Councillor Deirdre Costigan , the council ’ s cabinet member for climate action , said : “ This isn ’ t just good for the climate , it ’ s also good for our tenants : We estimate that people could pay much less for their heating every year – and it will also help with ventilation ; keeping their houses cool in the summer , not just warm in the winter . The houses will have triple glazing , which will cut down on noise ; and they will have solar panels on the roof to generate their own electricity . They will be fully insulated – like a tea cosy put over their property .”
‘ IT LOOKS VERY EXCITING ’ Trees Estate resident Asma Mohammad said : “ It looks very exciting because I am trying to become a bit more ‘ green ’ myself . And the chance to reduce my energy bills was a bonus because I have a baking business and I use gas a lot , so the bills are quite high .”
The loss of her trusty gas oven was a concern , but she hopes it ‘ won ’ t be too much of a hurdle ’ to switch to an induction oven .
She said : “ The more l learn about global warming , and the more I learn about the impact our actions , including our fuel consumption and waste , have on the environment and how it will affect future generations , the more I want to become greener myself . And maybe me sacrificing a few things for the greater good , and longer good , is not so hard .”
Fellow resident Anne Lloyd said her energy bills are ‘ very expensive ’ at the moment . She said : “ The project sounds very good to me if it ’ ll save me money on my energy bills and also make the house warmer – and also soundproof it as well . We have a lot of traffic where we live – and it would be good if we can reduce the noise because we hear it quite a lot indoors , especially at night . When you ’ re trying to sleep , the traffic can be very loud .”
Houses due to be retrofitted
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