14 July 2010
EDF Energy, the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, today announced it would be helping homes in the Blaenau Gwent area of Wales become more energy efficient.
The energy company has teamed up with Blaenau County Borough Council under the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) as well as professional installers Mark Group, to improve 525 homes in the area by installing various insulation measures to help residents reduce their fuel bills and carbon emissions.
CESP is a Government initiative which requires energy generators and suppliers to introduce energy saving measures in homes in low income areas.
This is the first CESP scheme EDF Energy has announced for Wales. Working with the Borough Council and Mark Group to make these improvements a reality will bring a great level of experience to the programme.
Angus Wilby, Head of Energy Services at EDF Energy, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project in Llanhilleth as sustainability is at the heart of our business. EDF Energy will contribute around £65 million to CESP over the life of the programme.
“We will continue to make significant contributions towards improving the energy efficiency of low-income households, which reflects our commitment to helping the most vulnerable customers reduce their energy bills.”
Councillor John Mason, Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Housing, said: “Through our partnership with EDF Energy and Mark Group we can help improve the energy efficiency of homes in Blaenau Gwent.
“This scheme is one of our Programme of Partnership initiatives that will help reduce heating bills for local people. Many people don’t realise they are classed as living in fuel poverty or that much can be done to save energy.”
Bill Rumble, Mark Group Commercial Director, added: “This is a landmark announcement and one we are proud to be part of, with EDF Energy. The partnership approach to delivery of a Government-funded scheme to over 500 homes, in effect, demonstrates a blueprint for how large scale energy-savings projects could be realised.”
A new purpose-built Academy will soon be opening in the region offering local employment opportunities. This will also ensure all installers working on the project are trained to Mark Group’s high standards. Based on the Group’s successful model in Leicester, they will receive hands-on training in every aspect of their job, including using ‘dummy’ lofts and walls to ensure techniques are honed and perfected.
It is anticipated that on a nationwide level, CESP will benefit around 90,000 households from September 2009 through to December 2012.
The Llanhilleth project is due to get under way shortly and is expected to take nine months to complete.
If you are a social housing provider or local authority who would like to learn more about CESP and working with EDF Energy please contact Kevin Thomas at Kevin.a.thomas@edfenergy.com
EDF Energy media contacts:
Phillippa Coates, Press Officer, 020 7752 2266, phillippa.coates@edfenergy.com
Rajan Lakhani, Senior Media Manager, 020 7752 2196, rajan.lakhani@edfenergy.com
Notes to editors: EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40 percent of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Sustainability Commitments EDF Energy has launched one of the biggest environmental and social programmes of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.
For more information please visit: www.edfenergy.com
Mark Group
Mark Group is a nationwide company which began insulating homes back in 1974. Today the Group helps over 6,000 homes become more energy efficient every week from 14 service distribution centres.
Mark Group's services are tailored for individual home-owners, as well as builders, architects, local authorities and government bodies. Products offered include Cavity Wall Insulation, Loft Insulation, Solid Wall Insulation, Heat Pumps, Solar Electricity and Solar Hot Water.
Grants from Government Agencies are available to many home-owners and Mark Group’s dedicated team of surveyors and installers provide expert advice, service and customer care in helping home-owners access such funds.
For further information visit www.markgroup.co.uk
CESP
The Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) has been created as part of the government's Home Energy Saving Programme. It requires gas and electricity suppliers and electricity generators to deliver energy saving measures to domestic consumers in specific low income areas of Great Britain. CESP has been designed to promote a 'whole house' approach and to treat as many properties as possible in defined areas.
CESP will also contribute to the government's Fuel Poverty Strategy by requiring actions to be delivered in geographical areas selected using the Income Domain of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England, Scotland and Wales. In England, the lowest 10 per cent of areas ranked in IMD will qualify and in Scotland and Wales the lowest 15 per cent of areas will qualify.
For more information please visit: www.decc.gov.uk