Hundreds of Hampshire homes to benefit from energy efficiency upgrades

Local housing association Aster Group is set to invest £2.8m* in upgrading the energy efficiency of over 200 of its customers’ homes across Hampshire. After a successful bid for the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, Aster Group has been awarded £1.4m*. The housing provider will match the £1.4m, providing £2.8m overall, to bring some homes currently with EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) ratings of D and E up to a minimum EPC rating of C.

The £2.8m investment will focus on customers’ thermal comfort, and keeping heat in the home to make sure they stay warmer for longer, especially during the colder months. Initiatives will include the installation of external wall, loft and cavity insulation, upgrading windows and doors, and renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and air source heat pumps.

Commenting on the funding, Gary Bellenger, Aster Group Director of Home Strategy and Sustainability, said: “We’re working hard towards our homes being rated EPC C or above by 2030, and net zero by 2050. This significant investment will help future-proof these homes ahead of these deadlines by improving the fabric of the buildings, making them more thermally efficient and ready for a sustainable future. Most importantly, the measures will make a substantial impact for our customers with the homes staying warmer for longer while reducing energy consumption too.

“This funding is just one way we’re improving the quality of those older, less efficient properties and complements the work delivered by our local trade teams to upgrade our homes. Further to rigorous assessments, the funding will be applied to those properties that need a blend of measures to bring them up to the standard we want for our customers. They will be selected based on where we can most affordably and significantly improve the energy efficiency for our customers. For those homes that need more significant upgrades to reach industry standards we may look to release them. This decision is never taken lightly, especially given the current housing shortage, but it allows us to focus our resources on homes where we can make the most significant impact.”

One of Aster’s customers benefitted from wave 2 government funding resulting in his home being fitted with solar panels, new windows, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and extractor fans. Commenting on the impact of the energy efficiency upgrades he said: “I was most impressed with the professionalism, help and support we received from all the operators and they were also very polite and cheerful. As a result of the work that has been carried out, our home is a lot warmer and with no drafts. The ventilation has also been greatly enhanced and has made a big difference. Most importantly we have seen a great reduction to our electric bills which is very comforting.”

Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: "Living in a warm, comfortable home should not be a luxury. It is a right that has been out of reach for too many people for too long. By giving this funding to local authorities and social housing providers we are delivering on our promise to improve the homes of thousands of people across England. As part of our Plan for Change, we are powering on with our Warm Homes Plan, upgrading cold and draughty homes so they are warmer, cleaner, and cheaper to live in."

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), is aimed at upgrading a significant amount of the social housing stock to meet an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C standard, delivering warm, energy-efficient homes, reducing carbon emissions and fuel bills, tackling fuel poverty, and supporting green jobs.

*Total awarded from Warm Homes Fund is £1.391,924, which Aster will match to provide £2,783,849.