Council tops energy efficiency table

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has shown the highest rate of improvement for home energy conservation of any council in Coventry or Warwickshire.  

The district council's performance improved by 2.6% during 2004/05 on targets set by the HECA (Home Energy Conservation Act) programme. This means an extra 8,356 tonnes per annum of CO2 emissions will be saved as a result of improvements made in 2004/05.  

During the nine years the HECA programme has been running, Stratford has achieved a 25% improvement in home energy conservation across the district. This is the highest improvement rate achieved by any council in Coventry or Warwickshire.

"Stratford-on-Avon District Council takes environmental matters very seriously," said  Cllr Alan Akeister, portfolio holder for the environment.  

"Although there is a national target of achieving a 30% improvement in Home Energy conservation by 2011, we are keen to reach that level two years earlier.  There is a specific target of achieving 28% by April 2008 in our Corporate Strategy, which will focus our minds and efforts.  

"I am delighted these results show we are on course to meet our long-term targets.

"I expect improvement to become harder to make as we go on, but we continue to make changes to achieve it.  For instance, in April we made changes to the housing grants on offer and this will help future results." 

A key factor in the council's success in 2004/05 was delivery of the Affordable Warmth Strategy with partners including the Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.

If anyone would like information or help to improve the energy efficiency of their homes - saving both the environment and their own energy costs - they can contact the Council on 01789 267575 or the Energy Advice Centre on 01789 842898. 

Notes for editors

The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) requires every UK local authority with housing responsibilities to significantly improve the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their area. This will help reduce emissions of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide.