A MULTI-million project to improve the energy efficiency of more than 100 council homes in Rugby has been shortlisted for a West Midlands Energy Efficiency Award.
Rugby Borough Council (RBC) joined forces with energy firm E.ON to deliver the project, which secured a grant of over £1million from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
The council match-funded the government grant to ensure the work could be carried out free of charge for tenants, with improvements focused chiefly on Wimpey No-Fines properties built in the Long Lawford and Rokeby wards in the 1950s.
To date, energy efficiency measures installed at the properties have cut energy bills by nearly £19,000, while the project looks set to cut household energy consumption by over 558kWh.
Now, with 112 properties set to benefit from the project before it ends next month, the council and E.ON have been nominated for the Regional Large Scale Project Award at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards 2025.
Energy efficiency measures installed at the properties include external wall insulation, solar panels and ‘top up’ loft insulation.
All properties included in the project now have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C or above, when previously all were rated D or below.
Coun Claire Edwards, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for communities and homes, regulation and safety.
Coun Claire Edwards, RBC’s spokesperson for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said the project formed part of the council’s ongoing strategy to decarbonise its housing stock.
She added: “Improving the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock means we can make homes cheaper to heat while supporting the council’s wider work to combat climate change.
“We’re delighted our work has been recognised by the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards and we’re looking to build on the project’s success in the future.”
Other nominations for the Regional Large Scale Project Award include Birmingham Airport and EvoEnergy’s project to build a solar farm at the airport, and the West Midlands Combined Authority’s work with Next Energy to tackle fuel poverty.
Coun Noreen New, Rugby Borough Council’s Liberal Democrat spokesperson for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said: “Energy efficient homes make a real difference in terms of driving down the cost of running a home for our tenants and supporting the environment, so we welcome this project’s success.”
The West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards take place at Kenilworth’s Chesford Grange Hotel on Thursday February 27.
