Green Deal Pioneers Project
Home Energy Makeover Competition Guidance
1. Background
Funding is available for energy makeovers for two solid wall homes in Lichfield District as
demonstration properties for energy improvements. The funding for the improvements is being
provided by the Government Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) under a scheme
called Green Deal Pioneers. Lichfield District Council (LDC) has successfully bid for funding under the
scheme.
The competition is being run on behalf of LDC by Southern Staffordshire Community Energy (SSCE)
www.ssce.co.uk and the Energy Saving Co-operative www.energysaving.coop. A competition entry
form is available on the SSCE website. SSCE is managing the competition while ESC will oversee the
building work on the two successful properties.
The main objective of this project is to promote the concept of solid wall insulation and the
Government’s Flag ship Green Deal initiative. This means that there will be a requirement for the
competition winners to provide information on their energy use to SSCE, ESC and LDC and to allow
their homes to be used as a show home during occasional ‘Open Days’ by allowing visits to their
homes. The requirements are set out in more detail below.
2. Funding and Works
The funding is available primarily to provide insulation for solid walls and to be eligible at least 50%
of the wall area on your home must be of solid construction. We expect to be able to provide 100%
of the funding for this, but in exceptional circumstances we may need to seek a contribution from
the homeowner.
If you have any doubts about the nature of your wall the following picture should help:
Wall Type:
Brick wall
with cavity
– All bricks
are lined
length
ways
Solid
brick
wall –
Some
bricks
are
head on
External insulation is the preferred method of insulating solid wall properties, but consideration will
also be given where homeowners wish to install internal wall insulation.
Funding may also be available for other energy efficiency improvements such as loft insulation or
new boilers, but will not be available for renewable technologies or double glazing/window
replacement.
We are seeking to fund improvements to 2 contrasting properties – it is likely that one property will
be urban and one rural, and of different property types (eg terrace, semi-detached, detached). So
whatever your solid wall property type and wherever in the District you live please think about
entering the competition.
The works will be carried out by a trusted local contractor carefully selected and supervised by the
Energy Saving Co-operative. Because of the conditions of Government funding works will need to be
on site and preferably completed by 31st March this year.
3. Assessment
The properties will be chosen through a competitive process. An assessment will be undertaken by
representatives of SSCE, ESC and LDC. The entries will be assessed on the following criteria:





Suitability of the property for solid wall insulation
Suitability as a show home
Providing contrasting property types
Ability to accommodate improvement works in the required timescale
Willingness to meet the conditions set out below in Section 4
A representative of the assessors may wish to contact you for further information or make a visit as
part of the assessment process.
In the event of more than two properties meeting the criteria equally well winners will be selected
at random.
All unsuccessful competition entrants will be offered an energy advice visit and will receive
recommendations on energy improvements they could make to their homes including information
on possible finance options for improvements such as the Green Deal (where relevant).
4. Conditions
The competition winners will be required to:




Open their homes to visitors on up to four days per year for the next two years to allow
people to see the improvements they have made
Keep monthly records of their heating use and expenditure and make these available to
SSCE, ESC and LDC on request
Allow SSCE, ESC and LDC to use pictures of their homes in publicity and as a case study on
their websites
Agree to allow a video to be made of the improvements as they take place including an
interview with them about the process and why they are taking part.
5. Entries
Completed forms must be returned by email to mike@wfeg.org.uk or posted to SSCE c/o Crossroads,
Back Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffs WS14 9NL. They must be received 5pm on Monday 28th
January. We expect to be able to inform the successful entrants by Friday 8th February.
If you have any queries please contact the SSCE energy team via mike@wfeg.org.uk on 01543
432238.