NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECT WILL INSULATE HOMES IN THREE RIVERS AND WATFORD

• 139 homes will be upgraded to a higher energy saving band through fabric insulation measures
• Energy efficiency of all social housing must be improved to an EPC band C by 2035 to meet the UK’s government climate change targets
• The UK has among the highest rates of fuel poverty and one of the most energy inefficient housing stocks in Europe. In Watford alone, fuel poverty affects over 12% of all households. 

Watford, 1st June 2023: OVO Energy Solutions, part of energy supplier OVO Energy, will work with partners to upgrade and insulate 139 homes across Three Rivers and Watford.

As part of the project 139 homes across Watford Community Housing and Thrive Homes housing stock are receiving energy efficiency upgrades. Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council are the two local authorities supporting the consortium, with Three Rivers District Council as the Local Authority Lead. 

Tenants participating in the project will have external wall insulation fitted to their home, dramatically improving the energy efficiency of their properties.

OVO Energy Solutions is making homes more energy efficient by taking a ‘whole-house’ approach – this means ensuring all the upgrades collectively deliver substantial energy savings. 

The retrofit will help increase their rating to EPC band C – the middle category –  by 2023, enabling residents to enjoy their warmer, healthier homes this winter.

These critical upgrades will be made entirely free of charge for residents following Social Housing Decarbonisation funding from the Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, matched by funding contributions from Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing. OVO is unique as one of only two suppliers operating in the residential retrofit energy efficiency market. It partners with Local Authorities and Housing Associations, helping them achieve their fuel poverty and energy efficiency objectives by improving private and social tenure homes for residents on lower incomes or with vulnerabilities.  

OVO Energy Solutions have helped over 10,000 homes across England, Scotland and Wales become more energy efficient through installation of external wall insulation, heating upgrades and microgeneration technology.

Mat Moakes, Chief Commercial Officer, OVO Energy said:

“By working with leading local authorities and housing associations, we’ve unlocked a huge opportunity to create greener, more energy-efficient homes for those people who live in draughty homes and will benefit from lower energy bills.

“Now, more than ever, the projects are critical to supporting households during the cost of living crisis while also bringing down the carbon footprint of the home. We’re proud to be a part of such a collaborative partnership between all parties, helping to retrofit homes across the county by installing technology, such as heat pumps or solar panels, and improve the lives of people in the community.”

Peter Taylor, Elected Mayor, Watford Borough Council, said:

“It is clear what a real difference insulation makes to residents’ everyday lives, so we are delighted that we will be able to offer grants and loans to the people in our community who need it most.  We hope this will improve the lives of our residents and provide a greener energy solution for our town”

Cllr Sarah Nelmes, the Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said:

“This exciting project will bring huge benefits to residents across our district – at a time when household budgets could not be more stretched. Not only do these changes help people keep their homes thermally comfortable and healthy throughout the year, they also help to reduce home energy costs while lowering carbon emissions.”

Tina Barnard, Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing, said:

“The energy efficiency of homes is a key priority for Watford Community Housing. These upgrades will immediately improve the thermal performance of our homes, saving customers money on household bills and supporting our push for net zero. Particularly in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, money-saving upgrades such as these are an integral part of our approach to supporting our residents.”

Jo Barrett, Executive Director of Operations at Thrive Homes said:

“Heating homes is responsible for a third of all emissions in the UK, so decarbonising it is essential if the UK is to reach net-zero. Working with OVO Energy, this grant enables us to bring some of our least energy-efficient properties to EPC level C, reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions and the impact of rising energy prices for our customers.”

END

Notes to Editors:

For more information please contact:

media@ovoenergy.com

About the project:

• The split of homes: 57 Watford Community Homes and 82 Thrive Homes.

About OVO

OVO was founded in 2009 and redesigned the energy experience to be fair, effortless, green and simple for all customers. OVO was awarded Company of the Decade at the BusinessGreen Leaders’ Awards and has won multiple awards, including Innovation Project of the Year, for investing in the market leading technology, customer service operations and digital products to help customers cut their carbon emissions. OVO won the award for Best Place to Work for Women and came Top 10 for Very Big Organisation in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2023 for offering forward thinking policies and better flexibility for everyone to balance work with life. OVO is on a mission through its sustainability strategy Plan Zero to tackle the most important issue of our time; the climate crisis, by bringing our customers with us on the journey towards zero carbon living. OVO Energy has committed to being a net zero carbon business and achieve bold science-based carbon reduction targets, while helping customers reduce their household emissions at the same time.