BIG Energy Upgrade Home Energy Efficiency Program Has a Positive Social Impact on Communities

Academics from the University formed part of a consortium of partners to deliver the BIG Energy Upgrade - Yorkshire and the Humber’s first ‘whole house, whole community’ renovation programme. For the past three years the scheme has helped support some of the region’s most deprived and fuel poor communities with a wide range of energy saving services.

Through £7.1m funding from the European Regional Development Fund, hundreds of homes across South and West Yorkshire and North and North East Lincolnshire have received energy efficiency makeovers including double glazed windows and doors and boiler upgrades. The scheme has also created 40 jobs.

A team from the University of Sheffield was tasked to monitor the scheme’s overall impacts in terms of the effectiveness of the renovation work, the structure of the supply chain and the influence on the behaviour of residents within different communities.

Representatives from the Department of Psychology surveyed over 250 residents whose homes were transformed with energy efficient measures. Many of these residents rent their homes from council owned housing associations and were spending over a third of their household income on fuel. The results of the survey suggested that the benefits of the scheme went way beyond its intended impacts. The response from householders demonstrated broader social benefits such as a growing sense of ‘community cohesion’ and ‘pride’ since taking part in the scheme.
A series of customer focus groups helped highlight the fact that the visual impact of energy improvements, such as external insulation, has helped boost confidence and admiration for areas that have historically been considered undesirable neighbourhoods.

One resident in Wheatley, Doncaster, commented: “Making the estate look a lot better makes it a proper home”. And a resident from Chickenley near Dewsbury said: “The improved appearance equals improved respect.”

The University’s study not only highlighted a change in social behaviour but recommended supply chain improvements which were then implemented by Local Authorities and Housing Associations. The study also provided empirical evidence of the improvement in heat loss associated with energy improvements.

Professor Lenny Koh, Director of the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainability at the University of Sheffield said: “The BIG Energy Upgrade is a unique approach to energy efficiency within vulnerable communities. Our research clearly demonstrates the scheme’s positive impacts on residents and the regional economy. Not only has the project helped boost morale amongst tenants, it has created jobs and united a broad range of public and private sector organisation with the view to eradicate fuel poverty across Yorkshire and the Humber.”

For more information on the BIG Energy Upgrade and the work carried out by the University of Sheffield, visit BIG Energy Upgrade