Steve Brine has warmly welcomed a groundbreaking energy efficiency trial by SSE plc in Cornwall has received approval from OFGEM as a means of ascertaining the carbon score of Residential Park Homes throughout the UK.
The two year long trial studied various insulation measures for Park Homes designed to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for Residential Park Homes, greatly improving the living conditions in the process. The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP, who works closely with Park Homes residents and is a member of the All-Party Group for Park Homes, is delighted that in some of the trials, residents' energy costs have halved and Ofgem having now approved the methodology of demonstrating the carbon savings attainable. The trial may pave the way for Park Homes to be made eligible for UK wide grant funding for insulation measures, as well as the planned Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
Park Homes are becoming an increasingly popular and affordable choice for families throughout the UK. However, their construction is designed to meet British Engineering Standards rather than to comply with Domestic Dwelling Building Regulations. Because of this, the thermal efficiency, or energy efficiency rating, is often quite low. They are also often located on sites that are off the mains-gas grid and due to these factors, Park Homes residents can be at higher risk of fuel poverty when compared to those living in more conventional dwellings.
SSE recognised that conventional insulation measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation, that are currently available through recognised grant funded carbon reduction schemes such as CERT and CESP, were not suitable for the vast majority of Park Homes. Therefore, as a way of demonstrating potential carbon savings, by improving the energy efficiency of Park Homes, SSE undertook an innovative trial to explore ways of addressing the inefficiency of these properties.
In conjunction with Alba Building Sciences Ltd and national fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, SSE conducted an initial pilot study of 8 Park Homes in Nottingham. Results from the pilot clearly demonstrated the urgent need for further investigations and SSE and Alba ramped up the studies, analysing the efficiency of over 100 Park Homes throughout the country to obtain a greater understanding of how the homes performed in terms of heat loss. 20 of these homes were selected in Cornwall and more detailed studies, with external wall, floor and roof insulation measures installed.
Monitoring of the homes performance "before" and "after" the measures were installed has quantified the level of carbon savings produced by vastly reducing heat loss from the structure; and the financial savings, due to reduced energy use. The measures have also had the added benefits of improving the visual appearance of the building façade and increased comfort levels within the homes.
SSE's Head of Energy Efficiency, Stephen Millward, is delighted Ofgem have officially recognised and approved the study and is hopeful that this will lead to a wider roll out of insulation measures for Park Homes. Stephen said: "Park Homes are not built to the same standards as conventional homes and can leak heat very quickly. This can lead to high energy costs, health problems and an increased likelihood of fuel poverty; with no recognised schemes in place to address these issues. We are therefore delighted that all our hard work over the last 2 years with our partners Alba Building Sciences has paid off with Ofgem now recognising our study as an approved method of demonstrating the carbon savings possible. We are now working with both Ofgem and DECC to build on our studies and we are optimistic and hopeful this will lead to a wider roll out of these measures through grant funded carbon reduction schemes and inclusion in Green Deal and ECO, helping to tackle both climate change and fuel poverty."
Steve Brine said: "This is excellent news, and I know that the hundreds of Park Home residents across my own constituency will be very pleased to hear about this. The energy efficiency of Park Homes is generally poor and they are often located off the mains gas grid. As a result, these residents can be at higher risk of fuel poverty in comparison to those living in more conventional homes. Hopefully we will see a roll-out soon, and I will be keeping close to this, especially through my work on the All-Party Group."
Grant Rooney, Director of Alba Building Sciences, added: "We are delighted that this SSE initiative, which embraced the application of our latest innovative technologies to expose problems that are often "invisible" to conventional building assessment methods, has been approved by OFGEM. The resultant benefits of applying these improvement measures will be very meaningful to occupiers of Park Homes across the UK."
Pictured; Steve joins Park Homes residents in Westminster Hall following a recent meeting in Parliament
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Find out more about Steve's work with Park Homes residents here.
