WIREDGOV

The Welsh Government will invest an extra £40m over the next four years to improve the energy efficiency of up to 25,000 homes across Wales and support other green growth initiatives.

The funding will be targeted at households on low incomes or in deprived communities, to help them to heat their homes at a more affordable cost and improving their health and wellbeing.

It will also support further green growth initiatives, building on our energy and carbon saving work to date in the Welsh public sector.

The additional money was announced as part of the Welsh Government’s final Budget 2017-18. A vote on the final Budget will be held in the National Assembly for Wales on January 10, 2017.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths yesterday said:

“Rising energy costs are a concern for far too many families and householders during the winter months. Since 2011, we have invested more than £217m in the Welsh Government’s Warm Homes scheme and improved the energy efficiency of more than 39,000 homes.

“I am delighted the additional £40m announced today will help us to take direct action to reduce peoples’ energy bills and improve the energy efficiency of up to 25,000 more homes as well as supporting innovative green growth measures. This is excellent news for our communities in some of Wales’ most deprived areas this winter.

“At the same time, we will continue to work with the Welsh public sector to implement initiatives which enable the sector to reduce budget pressures from their energy bills, as well as making carbon emission savings.”

The Welsh Government’s Warm Homes programme takes a whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency, through such measures as installing insulation, heating controls, replacement boilers and draught proofing.

As well as significantly improving the health of those currently struggling to heat their homes, the Warm Homes scheme also works to reduce energy emissions and create local jobs and opportunities for local companies in the energy efficiency industry.

Through the Green Growth Wales Programme, the Welsh Government has been supporting the Welsh public sector to save energy, reducing budget pressures from energy bills and reducing carbon emissions, as well as generating renewable energy on the public estate. The Welsh Government funding is repaid from the savings made, and recycled into further projects.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

“The final Budget 2017-18 provides ambition and stability in uncertain times. This funding will benefit individuals, families and help to strengthen communities across Wales.”