Milton Keynes' National Energy Foundation wins public sector energy champions award

The project delivered solid wall insulation and other energy efficiency improvements to reduce both fuel poverty and carbon emissions on a street-by-street basis in 577 hard-to-treat homes.

In a pan-regional partnership approach involving a Project Board, DECC, the private and public sectors and energy suppliers, the National Energy Foundation’s management of the project included:

> Working closely with the local authorities and the Green Deal Provider on a range of issues, including the identification of the streets to be targeted.

> Providing specialist and administrative support for the management of grant applications, marketing, show homes, tendering, contracts, and the production of legal documentation.

> Negotiating with DECC on grant levels, target numbers and the widening of the funding criteria.

> Liaising between clients, the local authorities and all the contractors, and managing the payment of installers on customers’ behalf.

> Carrying out customer surveys to establish their’ experiences and satisfaction with their installs.

“I’m delighted to receive this award on behalf of both the National Energy Foundation and the 14 participating local authorities,” said Sandra Hayes, senior project manager at the National Energy Foundation.

“Our Green Deal Communities Project was an ambitious and challenging programme but its fantastic achievements in terms of the number of energy efficiency installations and the subsequent savings in both carbon emissions and householder fuel bills are an excellent example of what can be achieved when partners come together and cooperate with a clear focus,” she added.