Article date:4 November 2010
Written by:Jose Espinosa
EDF Energy, Britain's largest producer of low-carbon electricity, has signed a deal with carbon reduction company Sustain to deliver energy saving measures in low income areas through the Government's Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).
The agreement will deliver energy saving measures, such as solid wall insulation, fuel switching and low carbon technologies, for up to 3,000 homes.
Sustain has worked closely with EDF Energy on a number of energy efficiency schemes, such as EEC (Energy Efficiency Commitment), CERT (Carbon emissions Reduction Target)and now CESP.
Sustain is already on site with EDF Energy on three CESP projects - in Bristol, Peterborough and Redcar - with another seven with Ofgem for registration including a project with housing association Poplar HARCA in Tower Hamlets, London.
As part of the agreement, Sustain will assess proposals from housing providers and determine whether they are eligible, administer EDF Energy's funding and calculate the carbon savings on completion of each project.
Jim Wrigley, senior associate at Sustain, said: "We are already working on a number of successful projects with EDF Energy and are looking forward to building on this to help improve the energy efficiency of low income homes.
"Our experience with the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) has given us knowledge and expertise of how programmes like this work and we are developing innovative schemes that use a mix of low carbon technologies."
Sustain and EDF Energy worked together on the first CESP project to start on site - a block of 131 flats in Easton, Bristol. The project was also the first to be completed under the CESP scheme and the carbon savings will be registered with Ofgem in due course.
Angus Wilby, head of energy services at EDF Energy said: "Our successful partnership with Sustain is already seeing a number of projects get under way. The combination of the two companies' skills and resources means we can help many people in low income areas improve their energy efficiency and cut their energy bills.
"Solid wall insulation, for example, can save an average household up to £385 a year on their bills and up to 1.9 tonnes of CO2 *."
CESP is a Government initiative that runs until December 2012, which puts an obligation on energy generators and suppliers to fund energy saving measures in homes, in low income areas.
* Source: the Energy Saving Trust
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