Community Energy Efficiency projects double their fuel poverty targets
Forty nine projects in England supported by the Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) are expected to exceed their targets by 100 per cent, Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock announced today.
The CEEF aims to reach 300,000 of the most vulnerable households with campaigns to ensure everyone, including those able to pay, can enjoy a warmer and more energy efficient home. But successful projects are predicted to reach 600,000 households across England by the time they reach completion over the next three years.
Joan Ruddock welcomed the roll out of the CEEF projects saying:
"Working at a local level delivers help directly to those who really need it. Area-based initiatives understand the needs of their community so they can produce targeted, tailor-made advice that achieves immediate results.
"Making your home more energy efficient will not only ensure you stay warm, but it will slash your energy bills and allow you to do your bit towards helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint"
CEEF projects provide a cost effective way of delivering the Government's flagship programme Warm Front and also CERT. CEEF works in conjunction with the Act on CO2 campaign. Both projects and measures are in place to reduce fuel poverty, promote energy efficiency and tackle climate change.
All CEEF projects needed to plan a strategic campaign which:
- provides advice to all households in their target community about the energy efficiency measures available to keep homes warm and more comfortable;
- promotes the availability of subsidies and grants to all households so everyone, particularly the most vulnerable, knows what funding they can receive and how they can apply for the help they need;
- delivers a whole house approach to ensure each household has effective and sustainable solutions; and
- communicate in imaginative ways with their local community.
Notes to editors
1. People can call the Act On CO2 Advice line on 0800 512 012, or visit the Energy Saving Trust website at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
2. CERT doubles previous obligations on energy companies to help people make their homes more energy efficient and reduce household emissions. The total investment is estimated at around £1 billion a year for three years. Forty per cent of the work to reduce emissions will be targeted at the over 70s and people on low incomes.
3. Under CERT energy companies are responsible for their own offers. For details of the latest available offers, including full details of eligibility (which can depend on your location and circumstances), visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/gid, or contact the Act On CO2 advice line on 0800 512 012, or contact the energy companies directly.
4. The Energy White Paper encourages a more localised approach - in regions, Local Authorities and individual communities - to tackling fuel poverty, actively generating referrals and delivering cost effective measures.
5. The Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) was launched on 13th June 2007 and is administered by Defra.
6. CEEF applicants were invited through a competitive process to apply for funding. Defra received 119 applications from across England.
7. There were two separate rounds for funding bids. The first round closed on 13 July 2007 and was for those projects that were ready to start delivery almost immediately. The second round closed on 3 August 2007 and was for those projects who needed time to develop ideas and/or arrange partners before commencement of delivery.
8. Grants were made available for a minimum of £20,000 with no upper limit on bids. Grants cover the set up and development costs of projects for delivery in later years or to assist, expand or accelerate delivery of existing projects.
9. Proposals were considered on their merits and evaluated against a standard set of criteria. Applicants had to provide evidence of commitment to the project from the relevant local authority(ies) and had to demonstrate how the project will be sustainable beyond 2007-08 with funding from alternative sources including the private sector.
10. An evaluation to establish the full success of the CEEF projects will be undertaken on completion of the projects..
11. A breakdown of spending and projects per region is as follows:
East Midlands:
£422,764
6 projects
London:
£863,568
5 projects
North East:
£1,551, 505
8 projects
North West
£210, 315
5 projects
South East:
£406,471
5 projects
South West:
£751,349
7 projects
West Midlands:
£864,167
7 projects
Yorkshire & Humber:
£796,634
6 projects
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Published on: 2008-06-09
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