Written - arbed Programme

I am delighted to launch arbed, the Assembly Government’s Strategic Energy Performance Investment Programme.

The ground breaking scheme will leverage and coordinate investment into the energy performance of Welsh homes, the programme is manifestly cross-cutting – designed to maximise the environmental, social and economic benefits of this investment, and help deliver the One Wales commitments to tackle climate change, eradicate fuel poverty and boost economic development and regeneration in Wales.

Today, along with the Deputy Minister for Housing & Regeneration I am launching arbed projects delivered by 21 social housing providers across Wales’ Regeneration Areas. The approved projects will:

• tackle fuel poverty, deliver carbon savings, and create local business and employment opportunities;
• improve energy efficiency in 6,000 fuel-poor / low-income energy inefficient homes across tenures by March 2011;
• demonstrate value-for-money by leveraging non-arbed funding;
• focus on some of Wales’ most deprived communities;
• adopt a ‘whole-house’ approach, funding the energy performance measures which are most appropriate to specific properties;
• kick-start the economy by providing contracts to local companies and creating an energy efficiency and renewable energy industry in Wales;
• create green jobs and training opportunities – companies who are successful in bidding for work through Arbed funding are contracted to employ locally and deliver 156 training days for every £1million of Government funding; and
• enable small and medium size businesses and contractors to gain extra qualifications where needed

Wales is leading the way in the UK with this innovative scheme that focuses on energy efficiency. But it is truly sustainable because we will be reducing fuel costs and helping those most in need who are in fuel poverty, and making local job creation and training a key part of the schemes.

At the start of Sustainability Week this shows how the Assembly Government can coordinate energy efficiency, economic and social action to have a real impact on people’s lives.

I am committed to tackling climate change and arbed demonstrates the Assembly Government's commitment to take practical action to help Welsh residents. Climate change is the biggest threat facing the world and making homes more energy efficient will reduce Wales' carbon footprint as the direct and indirect consumption of energy from buildings generates approximately 40% of all carbon emissions in the UK. It will also help Wales to meet its target of 3% annual reductions in emissions from 2011 onwards. 

Projects will be delivered by the following social housing providers:

• Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
• Bronafon Community Housing
• Cartrefi Conwy
• Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd
• Charter Housing Association
• Coastal Housing Group
• Cymdeithas Tai Eryri
• Family Housing Association
• Grwp Gwalia
• Linc Cymru
• Melin Homes
• Merthyr Valley Homes
• Newydd Housing Association
• North Wales Housing Association
• Pennaf Housing Group
• RCT  Homes
• Rhondda Housing Association
• Swansea Council
•  United Welsh
• Valleys to Coast Housing
• Wales & West Housing Association

Through this exciting new scheme, a first of its kind at this scale in the UK, the Welsh Assembly Government is investing £30 million in innovative projects working to improve the lives of people in some of Wales’ most deprived areas. Working in partnership with those providers above we are improving the quality of housing and creating employment and training opportunities for people across Wales.