Project Description
Case Study: Carlisle City Council
Union Technical is working with Carlisle City Council on the ongoing Homelife Carlisle Project which installs energy efficiency measures into local homes. This project is estimated to save each household over £250 per year from their fuel bills.
This unique project is provided by Carlisle City Council and the Homelife Improvement Agency. A range of funding streams are utilised which gives residents access to energy efficiency measures and other home improvements. The grants, which include those for energy efficiency, administered by Homelife has helped to keep low-income and vulnerable households safe and warm, reduce accidents and risks in the home, assist people with dementia make changes to be able to live longer in their own home and preventing risks of unsafe gas appliances.
As an approved Contractor of Carlisle City Council, Union Technical Services are able to use various funding streams to install a full range of energy saving products for local residents.
Already a range of product installs have taken place including, loft, cavity wall, internal wall, room in roof and under floor insulation as well as fitting new gas boilers. Renewable heat technologies are also being considered.
This work is completed free of charge to residents utilising funding secured by Union Technical from the major utility companies under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
Union Technical are also assisting Carlisle City Council to deliver their Flexible Eligibility part of ECO. This comprises of a council designed eligibility criteria to assist those in need of help with improving the thermal efficiency of their properties but who do not qualify through the normal ECO route.
What Customers Have To Say
We’ve had fantastic feedback from residents who have benefited from these energy saving measures with one saying “Highly satisfied with the professionalism and information provided by the person I first spoke to. They were very informative and helpful. The assessor who came to my home was a very nice man and helped me to understand exactly what was going to happen in my house. When John came to fit the work he did a great job. Everything was fitted neatly and my house was left spotless after the work was carried out.
My house is now lovely and warm, the staff I dealt with at Union Technical were great and always happy to help. I still can’t believe the council and Union Technical did all of this for free for us. I have recommended family and friends to contact the council and Union Technical to have their houses made warmer too.”
Another resident following a boiler replacement stated Union Technical were “very friendly and no mess to clean up.”
Our Head of Business Development at Union Technical Services, Kirsty Brown, said, “It is wonderful to be part of this project and be able to assist residents stay warm and well. It is known that living in a cold home can have so many implications on mental and physical health. By installing heating and insulation into homes we know we can save people money on their fuel bills and in the current economic climate, saving money is vital to us all. Being part of delivering such a project gives us great pride, knowing that what we do helps local people and makes a positive difference to their lives”.
What Union Technical & Carlisle City Council Have Achieved
Carlisle City Council also won the highly commended award for Local Authority of the Year at the event held in Bolton, having been nominated by Union Technical. The grants, which include those for energy efficiency, administered by Homelife has helped to keep low-income and vulnerable households safe and warm, reduce accidents and risks in the home, assist people with dementia make changes to be able to live longer in their own home and preventing risks of unsafe gas appliances.
In the last 12 months, over 520 discretionary housing grants have been approved, over 50 Gas Safe Charity grants administered and over 270 homes in Carlisle and district area have been improved.
Carlisle City Cllr Paul Nedved Portfolio holder for Economy, Enterprise and Housing, said:
“It is great that we are working with contractors like Union Technical to help improve the energy efficiency of local homes whilst at the same time helping them keep safe and warm. We are grateful for Union Technical for nominating us for this award and recognising the achievements of our Home Improvement Agency Homelife Carlisle – including our successful Help to Heat flexible eligibility ECO scheme.”
This project is an ongoing success, and this is reflected in our 2019 North West Energy Efficiency Awards win for the highly commended award for Regional Small Scale Project of the Year.