Work has commenced to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Coventry after funding was allocated from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The works will improve the energy efficiency of citizen's homes in the city which have an energy performance certificate (ECP) rating below C.

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is a pot of money being made available by the Government and is used to improve the energy performance of social housing.

Citizen worked jointly with Coventry City Council to bid for extra funding for energy efficiency home improvements, which was granted earlier this year. As a housing association Citizen was not allowed to bid for funding in the first wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund but could access the funding if a joint bid was entered with the local authority.

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The £2.4 million project will receive £1.1m in Government funding to fit external wall insulation to 95 homes as well as installing energy efficient doors and windows, increased loft insulation and improving ventilation to reduce the potential for mould growth.

It is a condition of the bid that all works must be completed by 31 March 2023.

Head of Strategic Asset Management at Citizen Chris Morris said: "It's really good news that work is well underway on 95 homes across Coventry thanks to funding from Wave 1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

"We worked very closely with Coventry City Council to prepare and submit the bid which was great partnership working.

"A large proportion of our customers live in fuel poverty and these improvements will help tackle this. Improving the energy efficiency of our homes will help to reduce the amount of energy used during these times of the cost-of-living increase and high energy bills. Also, by making our homes more efficient it reduces the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, reducing the impact on the environment.

"We think it's important these works help to deliver energy efficient homes and improve the comfort, health and wellbeing of our customers."

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund makes further progress towards delivering the Government's commitment to invest in the energy performance of homes.