H o u s i n g Energy Efficiency
– Defence Estates Are Listening!
P
ressure from the 3 Families Federations has helped persuade Defence Estates (DE) to invest some funding in this aspect of home
improvement; this pressure was brought to bear on behalf of the many families living in Service Families Accommodation (SFA) who had provided evidence of their concerns at rising utility bills and poor insulation of their SFA.
It just goes to show that, with the right evidence, we really can influence those who can make a difference. Clearly, funding is limited but it’s good to see DE responding to this requirement and we look forward to seeing the insulation programme rolled out across the estate over the coming years. This article is from DE.
We all know that over the last year our utility bills have risen greatly owing to the rises in the wholesale prices of gas and electricity. The newspapers have been full of ideas to help people save money on their fuel bills, one of which is to ensure that your house has the correct amount of loft insulation.
Defence Estates Ops Housing in conjunction with Modern Housing Solutions (MHS) has now begun a programme to improve the loft insulation in Service Family Accommodation across England and Wales. It is envisaged that the programme will improve the loft insulation in approximately 3,800 properties this year at a cost in the region of £1.3m.
Additional funding is available for this year ’s programme and will be available again for next year. After this, the funding for loft insulation will be included in the budget available for improvements and upgrades on SFA. We are also looking into the possibility of installing cavity wall insulation in those properties that currently have none, as well as upgrading the loft insulation in those properties.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
We know that having any work undertaken in your property can be disruptive so we are intending to give occupants as much notice as possible that the works will be carried out. All properties are being assessed against the current standard and upgraded accordingly.
Some properties will not need an insulation upgrade and there may be cases where we can’t obtain access owing to holidays or other commitments. Where this is the case, substitute properties will be sought. Unfortunately this will mean that some occupants will have even less notice than those in the main programme. We are sure you will agree that even in these instances it is all in a good cause and it is important we make sure that we complete the number of properties scheduled for insulation in order to consume all the available funding.
All occupants will receive a letter from MHS telling them what is happening. The sub- contractor who will carry out the work will then contact the occupant of each house to arrange for surveys and insulation. It is envisaged that this will be the process followed in future programmes.
The contractors carrying out the current programme and the locations they are working in are as follows:
Brindley Asphalt are carrying out the work in the Bicester, Lichfield, Birmingham and Tern Hill areas.
PBS are upgrading the insulation in properties at Catterick and Wittering
TEJ are working in Chivenor, Hullavington, Sidbury (Circular Road) and Upavon.
Hudsons are currently at Digby, Scampton, Waddington and Wattisham.
This year’s programme was brought together rather rapidly, nevertheless it appears that we
are very close to completing it. Planning has already started for next year’s programme, which means that we should be able to proceed in a more orderly and structured way.
We are sure you will agree, that although this may mean a small amount of disruption in your home, this is a very worthwhile programme – having this work carried out will hopefully help to reduce your fuel bills and help the environment at the same time and will be welcomed by many.
Note from the Federation Families can help speed up the process by ensuring that they are at home when the contractors arrive for the appointment. If it is inconvenient contact the contractors promptly to rearrange the visit. It would also assist enormously if the loft space were cleared in readiness for the appointment.
Summer 2009 25
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