Call For bpha To ‘Aim Higher’ On Energy Efficiency Of Local Social Housing

Bedford Borough's largest housing association bpha has been challenged to 'aim higher' on improving the energy efficiency of its homes after its own figures showed that its main target for raising standards affects fewer than 2% of properties.

bpha has over 19,000 properties overall, mostly in Bedford Borough, and is responsible for maintaining around 13,000 of those homes. In a presentation by bpha representatives at a Bedford Borough Climate Change Committee Meeting, it set out its aim to bring all of its properties up to at least a band D energy efficiency rating.

With just 221 of bpha's 12,596 energy efficiency-rated homes having a rating below band D, this modest target affects just 1.8% of properties. Committee member Liberal Democrat Cllr Jake Sampson questioned why bpha isn't looking beyond this modest target and going further to keep people out of fuel poverty and reduce emissions.

Commenting, Cllr Sampson said: "bpha's own figures show the huge scope they have for improving energy efficiency across its housing stock. A target that can only benefit less than 2% of homes is simply not good enough, and even for those couple of hundred properties the aim is the very modest band D rating. That leaves thousands of residents in homes with huge potential for smaller bills and reduced environmental impact.'

"bpha should aim higher, on behalf of its residents and our environment. There are all sorts of energy efficiency measures that can be taken to improve standards, and the environmental benefits and financial benefits for residents can be huge."

bpha's presentation to the committee noted that residents whose homes moved from band D to a band C energy rating following recent improvement works in Riseley would save around £130 per year, illustrating just one of the potential gains of looking beyond band D.

A video recording of the Climate Change Committee meeting, including the presentation from bpha at Item 6, can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6W1HptdKcg&feature=emb_title