East Midlands-based social housing provider emh homes is celebrating winning £5000 for its project which aims to help residents save energy and cut carbon waste from their homes.

The groundbreaking project scooped the top prize in the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Awards, run by leading UK fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) and British Gas, for the landlord’s installation of air-to-water heat pumps in 144 of its homes in Cowley Close, Northampton. The pumps are the most energy efficient and affordable technology available, and take the properties above target minimum energy efficiency SAP rating as part of emh homes’ Carbon Reduction Strategy.

The awards celebrate and recognise projects which help entire communities save energy by insulating their homes and learning about energy waste as well as those which offer training in the community, free home energy checks, and support for people in fuel poverty.

The landlord plans to use the prize money to host community awareness events and workshops in the Northampton area. The events will be held in conjunction with local community groups and other public service providers in the area, including health and well-being agencies, and open to the general public. The events will provide advice on fuel bills and tariff switching alongside information on energy efficiency.

Bruce Kerr, Director of Asset Management at emh homes, part of emh group, said: “We are thrilled to be recognised for improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 in the East Midlands. We hope that the advice workshops we will be hosting with the prize money will help local residents save an estimated further 20000kg CO2.”

Maria Wardrobe, Director of External Affairs at NEA, said: “Improving the energy efficiency of the homes we live in so that people do not have to use as much energy is the only sustainable way to make energy bills affordable. I am delighted that emh homes has won an Energy Efficiency Best Practice award, and would like to thank British Gas for supporting the awards as part of the wider Community Action Partnership.”

Christine Tate, Head of Corporate Responsibility at British Gas, said: "We are very pleased to support these awards. The winning projects help thousands of people gain a better understanding of how energy efficiency can reduce bills and make homes warmer. As a leading energy company we think it is vital to recognise projects like this which make a real difference to peoples’ lives.”

Huong Truong