Our commitment to improving energy efficiency for our customers
At North Devon Homes, we are committed to investing in warm, safe, and energy-efficient homes for our customers. Over the past few years, we have taken significant steps to improve the energy efficiency of our customers’ homes, helping to reduce our customers’ energy bills and their carbon footprint. This has been made possible thanks to our successful bid to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), along with other social housing providers, for energy improvements to properties across the South West of England.
The SHDF is a UK government initiative aimed at improving the energy efficiency of social housing. It provides an opportunity for landlords to compete for funding to upgrade homes that could benefit, making them more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. This helps reduce energy bills for residents and lowers carbon emissions.
We worked hard to make the case for North Devon Homes to secure funding in both wave one and wave two of the SHDF. The funding secured allowed us to carry out crucial upgrades to our homes. Under wave one, we focused on two communities of sheltered housing bungalows that were without mains gas. As part of this project, we clad 48 properties with external wall insulation and upgraded windows, doors, and heating systems, where required. Our efforts were recognised at the South West Energy Efficiency Awards 2024, where we were highly commended for our work.
Wave two funding has enabled us to continue our mission, bringing even more homes up to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band C or above. The properties benefiting from these upgrades are located in:
- Church Close, Goodleigh
- Hillside, George Nympton
- Jubilee Gardens, North Molton
- Spire Lake, Bishops Nympton
- Beacon Rise, Chulmleigh
- Balls Corner, Burrington
- Langley Gardens, Chulmleigh
Many of these properties have received new windows, doors, insulation, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, extractor fans, and storage heaters. These improvements have not only increased energy efficiency but have also contributed to making our homes more comfortable and cost-effective for our customers.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been the positive feedback from our customers. Many have reported noticeable reductions in their energy bills, and we have worked closely with them throughout the process to ensure good communication and a clear understanding of their needs. Their input has been invaluable in making sure these upgrades deliver real benefits in a way that works for them.
At North Devon Homes, we take pride in being more than just a housing provider, we are a community landlord committed to supporting our customers. As part of our corporate plan, we are dedicated to ensuring that our homes are safe, well-designed, and properly maintained. We continue to prioritise improvements that enhance energy efficiency, improve living conditions, and ensure that our customer’s homes remain decent places to live.
We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far, and we remain committed to further improving our housing stock. With ongoing support and investment, we will continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers and the communities they live in, ensuring they have homes that are not only affordable but also sustainable for the future.
