Welsh Government | Arbed funding helps to keep homes warm

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Arbed funding helps to keep homes warm

Environment Minister, John Griffiths and Finance Minister, Jane Hutt have visited homes in Cardiff that have been transformed by a range of energy efficiency measures.

Monday 05 December 2011

Environment Minister, John Griffiths and Finance Minister, Jane Hutt with Pamela Williams, whose home had benefitted from Arbed improvements.

Environment Minister, John Griffiths and Finance Minister, Jane Hutt with Pamela Williams, whose home has benefitted from Arbed improvements.

The Ministers met householder, Pamela Williams from Bryn Celyn in Pentwyn who is benefitting from a warmer home and lower fuel bills as a result of the Welsh Government’s strategic energy programme, Arbed.

The Ministers also met Luke Mitchell and Dale Jennings, two newly qualified plasterers, who had received training and found work in Pentwyn as a result of Arbed.

Over 200 homes in Pentwyn are being upgraded with more than half a million pounds of Welsh Government Arbed funding. The money is paying for energy saying measures such as external cladding, wall and loft insulation and class A boilers.

The investment in Pentwyn is part of the first phase of the Arbed programme which saw £61m being spent on making homes in some of Wales’ most deprived areas more energy efficient.

The second phase of the Arbed programme, which is now underway, will see a further £45m being invested in Welsh homes.

Environment Minster, John Griffiths said:

“Ensuring that Welsh homes are more energy efficient is vital if we are to successfully tackle fuel poverty.

“The Arbed programme is having a real impact on communities across Wales and is ensuring that homes in some of the more deprived area of Wales are warmer and easier to heat. Not only that but it is helping us to reach some of the challenging carbon reduction targets set out in our Climate Change Strategy.

“It am delighted to have this opportunity to visit householders in Pentwyn who are enjoying warmer homes and more manageable fuel bills as a result of Arbed investment.”

Finance Minister, Jane Hutt said:

“It is good to see first hand the difference that Arbed funding is making to residents here in Pentwyn.

“However the benefits of Arbed are not limited to householders. The funding is also helping to provide new job opportunities within communities across Wales, to stimulate Wales’ green economy, and to support the construction industry at what is a difficult time."

During the first phase of Arbed, which ran from 2009 to 2011, 6000 homes across Wales were transformed by the installation of energy efficiency measures.

The programme also saw over 4,500 weeks of training being delivered in Wales and 80% of the technology being installed by companies that were Welsh or have a large employment base in Wales.

Arbed is delivered in partnership with local authorities and Welsh Housing Associations.