Solar so good for Birmingham’s fuel poor

This recession, like each of its predecessors, has spelt misery for the poorest in society.

It has also meant an eco setback for many households as green aspirations come at a price.

Government figures released last month highlight fuel poverty is no longer a problem limited to the elderly with over five million in the UK now forced to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel to heat their homes.

Last year the average energy bill rocketed by £381, a figure even the recent price cuts will hardly impact upon with a mere £50 being knocked off the price annually. 

Yet one Birmingham-based housing association has been setting out to help those living in fuel poverty save money and the environment.

Yasmeen Akhtar benefits from free solar panels

Family Housing Association, based in Digbeth, is proving that measures such as fitting rooftop solar panels which provide free hot water, need not be the preserve of the wealthy or those living in new builds.

Inspired by local residents, Family Housing and partners - Birmingham City Council and Urban Living, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfiner, have provided 355 low income owner-occupiers in Summerfield and South Lozells with free solar panels and energy efficient heating and lighting. These eco improvements, which are worth £6,500 per home, should help reduce annual fuel bills by up to 60 per cent.

The eco programme first started in 2005 and has converted the area of Summerfield in the north west part of the city into Birmingham’s first eco village. The highly successful partnership working has been nationally recognised and won several awards, including most recently the National Housing Federation’s ‘What We Are Proud Of’ 2009 Award for the West Midlands. 

The Summerfield Eco Village also included trainee work placements for 20 local unemployed residents in energy efficiency and solar panel installations, the de-conversion of 6 large Victorian properties into Eco friendly family homes rented out to social housing tenants, the establishment of an Eco Office at the Church Hall and the support of the Council’s Housing Education Initiative to engage children from 6 local primary schools in developing an Eco website, Eco radio station and energy advice DVD’s.

The project has also been promoted as an example of best practice and has hosted nearly 2000 visitors. Due to its success in Summerfield the project was recently expanded into South Lozells to help more home owners reduce their energy bills.

The South Lozells Eco Scheme, which is being delivered by Family Housing with funding from Urban Living, has seen 26 low income owner-occupier homes in the area fitted with solar panel hot water systems and energy efficient boilers, 60 homes have had a visit from the ‘Green Doctor’, a qualified home energy efficiency advisor and a total of 1,500 homes have been given ‘green’ information packs including free energy saving light blubs. Urban Living funding also opened up the opportunity for 5 trainees to receive paid job placements on the project.

South Lozells resident Yasmeen Akhtar, a mother of two living in Burbury Street, has been one of those to benefit from the retrofit to her home.

She said: “The real benefit of the solar panels is felt throughout the hot weather when our hot water is provided entirely for free. In the winter months, we do have to subsidise this with the boiler but that has been replaced that too so it’s more energy efficient and saves us money.”

Tim Sewell, chief executive of Family Housing, said: “The partnership working to our eco programme has been the key to its success and clearly demonstrates what can be achieved to reduce energy use at a neighbourhood level. We are hoping to continue rolling out the project to other areas of the city and help more low income households benefit from the eco improvements and cut down on fuel poverty. This all helps Birmingham hit carbon targets, reduce energy costs and develop the skills and jobs of the future.”

Those selected for the retrofit were chosen on a case-by-case basis but residents have to be owner-occupiers with an annual household income of less than £21,000 or are spending at least 10 per cent of their income on fuel.

Top energy saving tips:

·        Insulate your loft – 25 per cent of the heat in your home could be escaping through the roof

·        Cavity insulation is another cost effective measure and could help prevent the loss of 35 per cent of your heating through the walls of your home

·        Switch to energy saving light bulbs – just one energy saving light bulb can save you on average £3 a year and swapping all could save you around £45 per year

·        Use biodiesel fuel – this can be used in any diesel powered vehicle and is biodegradable and non-toxic

·        Turn appliances off and your thermostat down – for every one degree you lower your thermostat you could be saving 10 per cent off your annual bill

·        Repair any dripping taps – just one dripping hot water tap wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath a week

·        Thermostatic radiator valves can help save the average household between £10 and £20 a year

·        Tumble dryer balls can help cut drying time by 25 per cent.