It was a pleasure to interview Tina Barnard, Chief Executive at Watford Community Housing, ahead of her participation at Solar&StorageLive London, April 29-30.
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Tina joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the importance of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and the potential impacts of the Government’s Net Zero cutbacks.
Tina explained the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is a fund for housing providers to assist properties to reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards and ultimately help them reach Net Zero targets.
The key challenge is raising funds. The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund isn’t a full grant, housing providers must match the funds being given.
Once a certainty on funding is confirmed, more properties will be able to reach EPCC standards.
Tina explained Government’s Net Zero cutbacks could be very detrimental to the community housing sector.
“If we haven’t got that leadership, be it Tory or Labour, in terms of reaching Net Zero… housing providers won’t be able to do anything, neither will consumers.”
Tina highlighted that behavioural change from consumers is less likely to occur if there is no incentive from government, whoever is in charge.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
