MORE low-income households in Warrington have made energy-efficient changes since 2019.
Data released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy shows that more and more low-income homes across the town have made use of the Government's Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation.
The HHCRO was introduced in 2013, and the new figures show that more than 2,000 households have made energy-saving installations since 2019 alone.
In all, around 4,900 low-income homes across Warrington have now installed the measures, which include more efficient boilers, heat pumps and solar panels.
Since 2019, which is when the Government implemented its net zero target, the number of households with energy-efficient measures has more than doubled across Great Britain.
However, some charities have said they are concerned about current schemes being unable to deliver on the Government's pledge.
Peter Smith, director of policy at National Energy Action, said: “It’s vital to make it easier for the scheme to support more fuel-poor households.
“The Government is aware which reforms will help it deliver its full potential and we hope they will be actively considered by the Secretary of State.”
The energy efficiency measures installed in the north west accounted for 18.2 per cent of all improvements as of June — the most across Great Britain.
Chair of Warrington's Climate Emergency Commission, Cllr David Ellis, told the Warrington Guardian: "The Green Homes grants were launched during (or just before) the Covid-19 pandemic which had a serious impact nationally on the number of schemes delivered.
"Many local authority areas had almost none, so what was done locally in Warrington was actually reasonably good under the circumstances.
"In Warrington, we now have a small team of energy advisors who started in June who work with Warrington Disability Partnership and Warrington Community Energy and they are working across the borough to help residents reduce their energy bills.
"One of the things they will be able to do is provide advice to householders in Bands A to D to seek grants under the new ECO (Energy Company Obligations) Plus scheme to put in loft insulation and cavity wall insulation."
Cllr Ellis added: "The scheme is being run by most energy suppliers, although smaller ones are not.
"Hopefully, the small team of advisors will help increase take-up of schemes like this locally."
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