Curo, the Bath-headquartered housing association and property firm, has completed its first energy-saving upgrade project, making 22 of its homes warmer and cheaper to run for their residents.
The 22 properties have been fitted with solar panels, new heating systems, improved insulation and new windows and doors, moves which also make them more sustainable.
Before the work, the homes in the Chew Valley villages of Compton Dando and Pensford, west of Bath, were rated as EPC D, but are now all either EPC A or B, making them among Curo’s most energy-efficient homes.
The improvements mean they will emit much less carbon – around 96,200kg less a year and a saving roughly equivalent to the amount of carbon produced by driving around the world more than 10 times or leaving a 100W lightbulb on for 275 years.
Curo director of procurement and asset management Matt Steele said: “We’ve undertaken a whole raft of improvements to improve the energy efficiency of these properties.
“Programs of work like this are really important to Curo. There is a climate crisis and this will help reduce our CO2 emissions.
“It also means that our customers will benefit from reduced fuel bills, and have warmer, more comfortable homes.”
The residents of the homes are already seeing the benefits with one, Michael Parsons, saying: “Our home feels warmer and our bills have halved.”
Neighbour Elizabeth Hutchinson added: “It’s brilliant that we have got warmer, cheaper homes.”
The project was funded by a £250,000 grant from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), matched by £250,000 from Curo.
West of England Mayor Dan Norris, who leads the combined authority, said, “It’s fantastic to see Curo retrofitting homes in Compton Dando and Pensford.
“These improvements will reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for residents, making their homes more comfortable and cheaper to run.
“This initiative is a great example of how, at the West of England, we are working with partner organisations and leading the charge on net zero.”
Much of the work was carried out by Low Carbon Exchange, Weston-super-Mare specialists in decarbonising homes.
Work is now underway on Curo’s second retrofit project, with 77 properties in and around Bath and Bristol being improved as part of its commitment to ensure all its homes are EPC C or above by 2030.
Curo, one of the South West’s largest housing associations with a portfolio of 14,000 homes, is best known in Bath for its flagship 700-home Mulberry Park development on former MoD land on the city’s outskirts.
To mark the completion of the project, an event was held with residemts joining representatives from Curo, Low Carbon Exchange and WECA.
Pictured, rom left, Simon Spencer from Low Carbon Exchange, Curo chief executiveVictor da Cunha, Mark Phillips from Low Carbon Exchange, Curo chief property officer Julie Evans, Chris Spinks from Low Carbon Exchange, Marion Britton and Ruth Delaney, both from WECA, and Curo director of asset management and procurement Matt Steele
