Union Technical and Carlisle City Council are celebrating success at the 2019 North West Energy Efficiency Awards after winning the highly commended award for Regional Small Scale Project Of The Year.
Carlisle City Council was nominated alongside Union Technical for the ongoing Homelife Carlisle Project which installs energy efficiency measures into local homes. The project is estimated to save each household over £250 per year from their fuel bills.
This unique project is run by the Homelife Carlisle Home Improvement Agency (HIA), provided by Carlisle City Council and combines a range of funding streams which allows residents access to energy efficiency measures as well as other home improvements
One resident who benefited from energy saving measures said: “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 there was no mess to clean up once they had finished.”
Kirsty Brown, Head of Business Development at Union Technical Services 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.”
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. The Home Improvement Agency is also arranging for all its staff to be trained in energy awareness, how to tackle people who are in fuel poverty and fuel debt and also in creating dementia friendly environments.
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.”
If you are a Carlisle resident, please call either Union Technical 0800 046 9190 to check your eligibility for energy efficiency measures to be installed in your home or Homelife Carlisle Home Improvement Agency on 01228 817111 to enquire about funding for other home improvements that help keep residents safe and warm in their homes.
