On the anniversary of Calderdale Council declaring a climate emergency, a new initiative is helping to shape climate action and supporting work to make Calderdale homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.
In early 2019, the Council declared a climate emergency in a bold move to step up its action to tackle climate change.
The impact of climate change is an ever-present feature of life in Calderdale and ambitious local action and a number of community-led initiatives are already underway in the borough.
One of these is Calderdale’s Retrofit Challenge project which is investigating how homeowners and residents can be encouraged to make their homes more energy efficient.
Calderdale has over 75,000 properties in the borough with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating C or below. A key challenge in the road to becoming net zero is how the energy efficiency of these properties could be improved. This could be achieved by fitting insulation, ventilation, and renewable energy technologies such as heat pumps and solar panels to homes, a process which is known as ‘retrofit’.
An important part of Calderdale’s Retrofit Challenge is the Citizens’ Jury, a group of 26 Calderdale residents of different ages and backgrounds, who have come together to consider important issues and develop recommendations to influence local, regional and national policy makers.
The Jury considered retrofit solutions and opportunities to overcome barriers from a different perspective. They met over six sessions and heard from a wide range of expert witnesses who covered specialist areas on retrofit. The Jury’s recommendations were launched at a special celebration event, where the group were also thanked for their time and effort.
The recommendations developed by the Citizens’ Jury include both short-term and long-term options to help make Calderdale homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat. They cover themes including advice and information, finance and planning and are aimed at various stakeholders, locally, regionally and nationally.
One of the recommendations is the establishment of a local ‘one stop shop’ where people can get trusted, impartial advice and guidance about retrofitting their homes. It would work with local trades to develop a network of trusted suppliers and offer training as well as apprenticeship schemes, increasing skills amongst local people.
In total, the Jury presented 14 recommendations which will now be used to help inform and explore possible solutions to the next steps of Calderdale’s Retrofit Challenge.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“Effective Climate action requires us to consider new ways of working together, with community-driven initiatives complementing Council-led work to deliver real change.
“The Calderdale Citizens’ Jury is playing a vital part in tackling the climate emergency. Their work as part of Calderdale’s Retrofit Challenge will support changes which could impact thousands of homes across the borough, making them more energy efficient and at the same time improving their comfort.
“The Jury’s recommendations inspire change at a local, regional and national level and support the themes of the Climate Action Plan, acknowledging the need to work collaboratively to create warm and resilient buildings.”
Calderdale’s Retrofit Challenge is being delivered in partnership with Calderdale Council, Carbon Co-op, and Todmorden Learning Centre and Community Hub, with funding from Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme.
The Calderdale Climate Action Plan outlines the steps required to meet the borough’s ambitious targets to be net zero by 2038, with significant progress by 2030.
It’s now just over a year since the plan launched and an annual review highlights the amazing work that has been happening across the borough and what will happen next.
Achievements include planting a new sustainable urban drainage garden in Mixenden, community-led retrofits, the reintroduction of sphagnum moss and innovative ways to raise climate awareness. Read more at https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/environment/sustainability/climate-action-plan/annual-review-year-one(external link)
For regular climate action updates, sign up to the Zero Carbon Calderdale e-newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/calderdale/zerocarbon(external link)
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