LOWER heating bills are on the way for hundreds of council homes in Rugby, as a £21million council programme to install free energy efficiency measures gets underway.
Solar panels have been installed at more than 50 homes in Newbold and Old Brownsover as part of Rugby Borough Council’s (RBC) Give Your Home a Glow Up programme, which was launched last autumn.
Under the three-year programme the council, in partnership with energy company E.ON, offers its tenants free energy efficiency measures – and has started contacting eligible households on a ward-by-ward basis.
Coun Claire Edwards, RBC’s portfolio holder for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said: “We’re delighted the first tenants have benefited from the free energy efficiency measures on offer through our Give Your Home a Glow Up programme, measures which can help make our tenants’ homes cheaper to heat and stay warmer for longer.
“Working in partnership with E.ON, we aim to make the installation process as smooth as possible for tenants.
“Depending on the measures fitted, installation can take just a few days and we work with tenants to minimise disruption.
“We’re working to an ambitious target of improving the energy efficiency of more than 1,000 council homes over the next three years, so, if we contact you offering a free home assessment for a ‘glow up’, make sure you get in touch.”
The council secured a £10.7million government grant to support the programme, with the council match-funding the grant from its Housing Revenue Account – which can only be spent on the management and maintenance of council homes.
The programme forms part of the council’s work to ensure all its homes have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by the Government’s deadline of 2030.
All eligible households offered a free home assessment during the three-year programme could benefit from a range of energy efficiency measures, including solar panels, air source heat pumps, wall insulation and loft insulation.
Coun Noreen New, Rugby Borough Council’s Liberal Democrat group spokesperson for communities and homes, regulation and safety, said the council’s partnership with E.ON had a proven track record after it was highly commended in the ‘regional large-scale project’ category at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards (WMEEA) 2025.
The accolade followed the council and E.ON fitting energy efficiency measures at 112 council homes in Rokeby and Long Lawford last year.
Coun New said: “The experience of fitting energy efficiency measures at homes in Rokeby and Long Lawford has allowed us to hit the ground running with our Give Your Home a Glow Up programme.
“We want this programme to make a real difference, helping council tenants keep homes warmer for longer with the potential to save money on energy bills.
“So, I’d encourage every household invited to have a free home assessment to take up the offer.”
Visit www.rugby.gov.uk/warm-homes for more information.
