A scheme to make homes in the city region more energy efficient and reduce fuel poverty has won a top European award.
REECH (Renewables and Energy Efficiency in Community Housing) is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded project to improve energy efficiency in some of the most deprived communities.
It has been awarded the top Cooperation Prize by EUROCITIES, an influential organisation representing 130 European cities.
REECH is a collaboration between the six city region councils, nine housing association in and local universities
It has
– Retrofitted 4,000 social homes across the city region to make them more energy efficient and reduce fuel poverty for tenants.
– Created 230 local jobs as 40 local firms carried out the work
– Meant 18,000 fewer tonnes of carbon were released into the atmosphere
Accepting the award at the EUROCITIES Annual Meeting in Munich on behalf of the City Region, Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills said, “I’m very proud that Liverpool has been recognised for its work on green technologies. REECH is rightly seen as an exemplar across the EU to fit energy efficient new technologies to homes across the whole City Region.
” Fuel poverty is one of the biggest challenges we face with increasingly energy costs. This projects helps reduce carbon use and also saves people money. It’s also great that the project has helped boost low carbon companies in the City Region and create local jobs.”
The REECH Initiative installs the following low carbon technologies:
• External and internal wall insulation
• Air source ground pumps
• Gas saver boilers
• Solar water heating systems
• Passive and mechanical ventilation
• LED lighting
• Triple glazing
• Voltage optimisers
