The stand-out finding is that about half the obstacles to home energy improvement are things that HVCA can help with by providing reliable information (31%) campaigning for a change in planning rules (16%) and recommending reliable contractors (10%). The other barriers are more intractable physical and cost constraints.
Government incentives would encourage homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their houses. These include lower council tax for energy efficient homes and zero VAT on energy efficient products and services.
Nearly one-third of people (31%) commented on the physical difficulty of upgrading the energy efficiency of their homes and a similar proportion would like better information, especially detailed independent surveys and advice.
Large-scale renewables
The key finding is that there is considerable support for large-scale renewables and sticking with the current policy of prohibiting them in the Peak Park was the least preferred option (liked by only 9% of people). People’s detailed comments suggest that nearly half (48%) of respondents are in favour of large-scale renewables in Hope Valley and 28% are cautiously supportive. Only 24% are opposed to them them in the Peak Park.
The key benefits of large-scale renewables are, foremost, to reduce carbon emissions in the Valley and three-quarters of respondents believe that a short-term increase in the price of electricity would be a price worth paying to ‘go green’.
Three-quarters (76%) of respondents are in favour of, or cautiously supportive of, large-scale renewables in Hope Valley. Only 24% were against.
What happens next
Home energy efficiency
HVCA are planning a series of initiatives aimed at helping people. These include:
Open Eco Homes Days June 2021 to inspire and encourage households to improve energy efficiency.
A stall at the next Bamford Eco Fair in 2021 to encourage the take up of ‘quick win’ energy efficiency measures.
Help build up a network of builders and installers with the knowledge and experience to retrofit the kinds of homes we have in Hope Valley.
Help organise reliable independent surveys of home energy efficiency.
Campaign in support of the Local Energy Generation Bill and a new, better, ‘Green Deal’.
Promote the Be-Snug Passive Systems hybrid heat pump roll-out to homes heated by oil or LPG.
School Energy Challenge early in 2021 with 7-13 year-old pupils in all schools in the Valley.
Large-scale renewables
HVCA will conduct a feasibility study of the options for renewables in Hope Valley. This will identify opportunities for large-scale renewable energy in the Valley, consult with key stakeholders and people living and working in the valley and make recommendation.
The study will comprise a technical analysis of the options, a forum to debate the issues, stakeholder workshops and a valley-wide public opinion survey. Our report will include recommendations and an outline plan to take the project from feasibility to implementation.
Nearly one-third of people (31%) commented on the physical difficulty of upgrading the energy efficiency of their homes and a similar proportion would like better information, especially detailed independent surveys and advice.
Three-quarters (76%) of respondents are in favour of, or cautiously supportive of, large-scale renewables in Hope Valley. Only 24% were against.
