Northumberland County Council has been selected as one of the top finalists for a prestigious Public Service Excellence Award for its commitment to home energy upgrades.
The Warmer Homes team at the Council has been shortlisted in the Best Climate Action or Decarbonisation Initiative category in the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards 2024 for its programme which aims to make homes across the county more energy efficient, helping residents to keep warm, save money on their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint.
Through the programme, 353 homes in Northumberland have had energy efficiency measures installed on their property since 2021, along with 882 residents receiving energy saving advice since 2023. Additionally, the Council has supported social housing partners to install energy saving upgrades to an additional 86 homes.
These upgrades include improved cavity wall, internal wall, loft and underfloor insulation and ventilation upgrades to reduce the likelihood of damp and mould.
As well as improving homes, collectively, these measures are expected to save about 410 tons of CO2 across the county every year, projecting the Council closer to its net zero target.
Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council and Cabinet Member for Climate Change said: “It’s always fantastic to see the hard work of our Council teams being recognised and I’m immensely proud of our Warmer Homes team who have been working tirelessly to improve the homes of our residents.
“Energy and heat from domestic properties are one of the county’s biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and this initiative is not only improving the lives of people in our communities but is helping us on our way to net zero as a county.”
This year, the APSE Awards include 17 categories, covering most local services which are specific to frontline services provided by UK local authorities.
The winners will be announced at the APSE Annual Charity Awards Dinner, in aid of Parkinson’s UK, on Thursday 12 September 2024 at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel.