Work starts on 2-year Government initiative to improve energy efficiency

Work on what is believed to be the first project to start on site under the Government’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) will improve the energy efficiency of a multi-story block in Bristol. Project partners include carbon-reduction company Sustain, which is managing the CESP delivery, Bristol City Council and EDF Energy, which are promoting and funding the energy-saving measures, and building company Rok, which is carrying out the refurbishment.

Energy-saving work for Rawnsley House, a block of 131 flats in Easton, includes replacing external cladding, the roof and windows to reduce residents’ fuel bills and cut carbon emissions.

The CESP scheme came into force in September 2009 and is expected to benefit around 90 000 households by December 2012.

The programme encourages a whole-house approach to improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s existing housing with measures such as solid-wall insulation, fuel switching and low-carbon technologies.