Blackpool gets greener as energy emissions fall

Blackpool goes green as emissions fall

Work to insulate Blackpool homes has been credited for a huge reduction in the town’s carbon emissions. New figures show the town has reduced its emissions by 30% over the last ten years, meaning almost a quarter of a million fewer tonnes of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere from the resort.

 

The Government’s latest statistics show a stark improvement in the town’s carbon footprint. While large carbon reductions have been made from the businesses and transport sectors, the biggest fall was in the domestic use of gas and electricity in homes. In fact, the 35% drop in emissions from Blackpool homes was the biggest across the entire United Kingdom. While many contributing factors can play a part in the fall, there is no doubt that better insulation for homes has meant a reduction in the amount of energy needed to heat a house.

 

Since the introduction of the Energy Company Obligation, Blackpool Council has helped residents access more funding than anywhere else in the UK, allowing thousands of residents reduce their energy bills and access more efficient boilers and better insulation for their homes. Reducing the amount of energy needed to keep their homes warm cuts down on carbon emissions as well as reducing monthly energy bills.

 

The obligation started in 2013 and compelled the UK’s largest energy suppliers to delivering energy efficiency measures in homes in order to help reduce the country’s carbon footprint and create more manageable fuel bills for families.

 

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This is great news which shows Blackpool households along with this council, are leading the way to make this country greener and more energy-efficient. “Our insulation programmes are a real statement of intent that this council is determined to reduce its carbon footprint and bring residents’ fuel bills down too. A lot of our housing stock was built at the turn of the twentieth century and as such many homes are old and poorly insulated, meaning warmth regularly escaped through the windows, walls and roof, making them cold and expensive to heat.

 

“The cost of constantly heating a cold house then pushed people below the poverty line and meant that residents were forever wasting energy trying to keep the family warm. That was bad for families and bad for the environment too so I am delighted with the work that we’ve been doing over the last few years to make residents aware of ways to insulate their homes properly or get better central heating systems.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and many families are still struggling with the inefficiency of their homes but help is at hand. The Cosy Homes in Lancashire programme is there to help households across the county to get access to cavity wall insulation, free first time central heating, loft insulation and replacement boilers.”

 

The award-winning Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL) scheme was originally set up by all of Lancashire’s local authorities to help households get the most out of the Government’s Green Deal and ECO schemes.

 

These have been designed to help insulate homes and make them more energy-efficient. This in turn saves money on bills and helps people keep warm and well.

 

The CHiL programme, which recently received a coveted Ashden Award for its good work in reducing fuel poverty, is available to residents across Lancashire, offering free and subsidised boilers, free first time central heating and a number of insulation measures to keep homes warm and energy-efficient over the winter.

 

For those living in the region who want to find out more about CHiL and whether you could be eligible for free or subsidised insulation, call 0330 606 1488, email info@chil.uk.com or visit www.chil.uk.com

 

 

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