Calderdale residents who are passionate about making a difference, are invited to take part in an exciting new initiative, helping to shape climate action and supporting work to make Calderdale homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.
Calderdale Council, working in partnership with Carbon Co-op, and Todmorden Learning Centre. is progressing work on the Calderdale Retrofit Challenge project, aimed at improving the energy efficiency of homes across the borough.
Data shows that over half of the borough’s carbon emissions come from its buildings. Around 50% of private homes in Calderdale are over 100 years old, with thousands of solid stone walled homes which can be cold, draughty, and expensive to heat.
The Calderdale Retrofit Challenge project aims to explore the challenge and need of bringing over 69,000 properties in the borough up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating C or above. This would 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’.
To help support the project, residents are being asked to join the Calderdale Citizens’ Jury – the first of its kind in the borough. The Jury will be made up of around 15-20 residents from across the borough who will come together to consider important issues and will help to develop recommendations to local decision makers, shaped through resident feedback.
The Jury will help to inform the way forward for the project, creating a set of recommendations that will be heard and seen both locally and nationally. No prior experience or knowledge is needed, just a willingness to share opinions to help shape the future.
Those interested in joining the Citizens’ Jury should be homeowners and ideally live in a stone-built or terrace house. The commitment would involve attending a series of in-person sessions on Saturdays in autumn and up to three online sessions. Jury members will receive vouchers for their time and commitment.
To find out more and to apply for a place on the Citizens’ Jury, visit https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/housing/healthy-homes-service/citizens-jury. People can register their interest until Thursday 12 September.
The work of the Jury will help to identify opportunities for the scheme development and support progress towards the borough’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Housing, Cllr Scott Patient, said:
“Retrofitting plays a vital part in tackling the climate emergency and the Calderdale Retrofit Challenge project will support changes to thousands of homes across the borough, making them more energy efficient and at the same time improving their comfort.
“One of the key actions of the Calderdale Climate Action Plan is to create warm and resilient buildings. We know that some of the borough’s older, stone-built properties are particularly challenging to heat, and retrofitting can help make this more affordable by minimising the amount of heat a home loses.
“To help support this exciting work, we want to hear from local people about their experiences and their opinions on how the project should develop. The contributions of the Calderdale Citizens’ Jury will make a real difference, supporting work towards achieving our ambitious carbon reduction targets.”
The Calderdale Retrofit Challenge project is funded by Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme and runs from July 2023 to July 2025.
The project will support delivery of the Calderdale Climate Action Plan, which focuses on the steps that the whole Calderdale community can take between 2023 and 2026 to make progress towards the borough’s target of net zero carbon emissions.
For regular updates, sign up to the Zero Carbon Calderdale e-newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/calderdale/zerocarbon(external link)