As gas and electricity bills steadily rise, we are making improvements to our homes to make them more energy efficient.
With 39,000 properties in the region, we are stepping up efforts to protect our customers from the cost increase.
Installing solar panels, new heating systems and new doors and windows are just some of the measures being made to future-proof our homes.
One of the first developments to benefit from solar panels is Sherwood Crescent, Weston-super-Mare, where a number of bungalows have been fitted with the energy-saving technology.
Leonard King has had six solar panels installed at his bungalow and is relieved to have them in time for the winter fuel price increase.
The 82-year-old said: “I am really hopeful they will make a difference as we all know fuel prices are going up.
“I knew LiveWest were looking at all of their homes, but I didn’t expect to have them fitted quite so soon. So I was really pleased when I was called to say they were being fitted.
“The installers were excellent, really brilliant and made me feel very welcome. They appeared to be genuinely pleased to be fitting something that will help somebody with their energy bills and that’s nice to see.
“I used to work for a housing association in London, where I was a caretaker, so I know that housing associations like to look after their residents.
“LiveWest are no different and genuinely care about the people living in their homes.
“Solar panels and other energy saving bits of equipment can only be good for the environment in the longer term and we all have a responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.
“I moved to Somerset 16 years ago and have never looked back. I love it here and I feel like I made a good decision.
“LiveWest has made me feel very welcome and have been an excellent landlord for me. I hope others get the benefit of having solar panels as they can only help.”
Rory Henderson, our Strategic Manager for Net Zero, said: “We are delighted to hear that Leonard is pleased with the solar panels we have installed at his home.
“LiveWest is acutely aware of the impact that rising utility costs are having on our residents. By undertaking works like this to our properties we are hoping to reduce the impact of some of these cost increases.”
We have launched our Cby28 project to bring 9,000 of our worst performing properties up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by 2028, two years ahead of the deadline set by government.
The project will see us investing around £38m into 9,000 existing rental homes, underlining our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and improve the energy performance of our homes.
It is designed to deliver warm, energy efficient homes, reduce carbon emissions of our customers and tackle fuel poverty – and represents the first step on our journey to net carbon zero by 2050.
With 80,000 customers across the South West, our fabric first approach has already resulted in installation projects taking place in more than 300 homes.
Find out more about what we are doing to create a greener future together on our Sustainability page.