£10m for green homes in Manchester

£10m is to go towards insulating and biomass heating in almost 3,000 homes in Greater Manchester.

The investment will provide low carbon improvements, including solar energy, wood chip fuel, thermal cladding and updated boilers to almost 3,000 homes in five social housing projects.

Householders’ bills will be slashed by over £20m, according to energy saving experts. It will support more than 122 jobs in the low carbon industry, and will cut carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the projects.

European funding is being matched by investment from utility companies and other private sector investments. The £10m financing breaks down as £5,036,000 European Regional Development Fund  funding, £4,143,500 from private funding and £892,000 from public funding.

The work is the first outcome of Greater Manchester’s Low Carbon Economic Area and has been co-ordinated by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities; the Commissions for the Environment, the New Economy and Planning and Housing; housing providers; the Energy Saving Trust; the National Housing Federation; and Envirolink NW.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the 1005 properties that benefit from solid wall insulation through the scheme can expect to see an average energy bill saving of £280 per year.

Chair of Greater Manchester's Environment Commission, Councillor Dave Goddard said: "Families will be able to do their bit in improving life for themselves and for future generations. Local businesses tender for work and support the local economy."

Further information:
Energy Saving Trust