PHEEL GOOD

PHEEL good. (Park Homes Energy Efficient Living)

This project presents an opportunity to tackle notoriously hard to heat homes, initially focussing marketing activity on two sites in England (Vinetree and Fayre Oaks - together comprising 162 homes) and three sites in Wales (Mellington, caerwnon and Middleton - together totalling 135 homes), but with potential to roll the project out to all sites in the two counties reaching a total of 547 homes in Herefordshire and 379 in Powys. Because of the 'hard to heat' nature of the properties and the, often, elderly residents there is a high incidence of fuel poverty in this type of dwelling.

Through implementing the energy efficiency and renewable energy measures outlined in this proposal a positive step can be taken towards the governments target of eradicating fuel poverty by 2018. In addition this project offers a real opportunity to work towards the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommendations of a 60% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2050, which, the government supported in the recent Energy White Paper. Furthermore, by exploring a key project sustainability concept via the creation of ESCo's it is hoped that this project can be rolled out, as an example of best practice, across the UK, directly tackling fuel poverty and dramatically reducing CO₂ emissions not only on the project sites but on all mobile home sites across the two counties.

Mobile homes remain a missed opportunity for sustainable energy and low and no carbon technologies. Challenging current manufacturers to increase the energy efficiency of mobile homes would be a worthwhile project outcome. The rising cost of 'bricks and mortar' homes is increasing the interest in mobile homes for first time buyers, as affordable housing.

More elderly householders often see mobile homes as a retirement idyll, cashing in on the value of their traditional homes and moving to an apparently low cost and low maintenance dwelling. The very low standards of energy efficiency present in most mobile homes places an undue burden on domestic finances and the environment.

Measures will be well subsidised or free for those on means tested ("passport") benefits (up to a limit of £5000 per household in Powys for measure that can potentially add up to around £7,500 for the whole package), and very good value for able to pay householders who take advantage of the bulk purchase prices negpotiated by the scheme.