Bridgend

All 4 Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), including Valleys to Coast Housing the RSL with the former City-owned social housing, are on target to deliver Welsh Housing Quality milestone by end 2012. Valleys to Coast Housing developed an Affordable Warmth Strategy 2007.

There are a significant number of owner-occupiers in former City-owned social housing. 

City has no solutions for houses in fuel poverty without sufficient income &/or ineligible for grant support, e.g. tenants who exercised their Right to Buy the former City-owned social housing. 

No real awareness of changing legislation on permits and energy certificates and their environmental background among builders, architects and project developers.

Climate Change Task Group of City officers working on the development of GHG reduction. 

Sustainable Development Forum.

Energy policy and legislation

Welsh Housing Quality Standards: These standards require all social landlords to improve their housing stock to an acceptable level by 2012 (i.e.: dwellings must be capable of being adequately heated at an affordable cost to the residents…).

Welsh Assembly Government– A Fuel Poverty Commitment for Wales 2003 set eradication targets of fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010, in social housing by 2012 & everywhere by 2018. A new Fuel Poverty Strategy introduced in July 2010.

Changing legislation regarding permits, energy certificates...

Energy Statement Policy 2006 with no specific quantitative goals, with a strong reference to Welsh

National Policy with quantitative goals of CO2 reduction. City has adopted an interim Local Housing Strategy 2009-2014 with actions to continue to improve the condition and suitability of private housing, tackling affordable warmth, carbon emissions and fuel poverty.

The Private Sector House Stock Condition Survey December 2009 identified excess cold as a significant local Category I health hazard together with fuel poverty.

'Starting to Act Differently' the City’s Sustainable Development Strategy & Action Plan 2006-2008 has been superseded by ‘Acting Differently’ the City’s revised Strategy & Action Plan 2010-2012.

The City held an Energy Crunch Workshop on 9 February 2011, a second such Workshop, to emphasise the impact of concerns raised in the City’s Climate Change& Peak Oil Strategy & Action Plan 2010-2013

The City’s Affordable Warmth Programme 2009.

Actions on Energy Matters

Existing actions

City has adopted an Energy Management Action Plan including promotion of advice to residents, development of affordable programme, Community warmth proposal & website.
Note: Renovations with high energy efficiency measures can improve inhabitants' financial situation.

Initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint are being developed in cooperation with Cardiff University.

Energy consumption of City's housing stock is monitored.

Policy monitoring is undertaken in a systematic way. Main housing performance indicator: reduction in energy and CO2 emissions for city's housing stock (15% CO2 reduction 2008-09).

Range of grant opportunities available to home-owners & tenants, to cities & to RSLs. It is not clear to what extent these subsidies are being used & if they lead to more energy efficiency. 

Potential future actions

Private banks just discovering possibility of green loans for energy saving. Energy contracting is not offered.

Structure exists for regular exchanges with key stakeholders (RSLs & Sustainable Development platform). However it can be expanded to internal & external potential parties (RSLs, private home owners, energy suppliers, representation of tenants, financial institutions, and energy supply companies, the Managing Authority). Motivating and involving entrepreneurs and private initiatives would be a new challenge.

Potential future actions

Private banks just discovering possibility of green loans for energy saving. Energy contracting is not offered.

Structure exists for regular exchanges with key stakeholders (RSLs & Sustainable Development platform). However it can be expanded to internal & external potential parties (RSLs, private home owners, energy suppliers, representation of tenants, financial institutions, and energy supply companies, the Managing Authority). Motivating and involving entrepreneurs and private initiatives would be a new challenge.