£4m pumped into Birmingham to encourage low carbon building

A NEW £4.3m project has been launched in the West Midlands to encourage greater use of innovative low carbon building technologies.

The government scheme is aimed at helping more than 120 businesses in Birmingham.

Under the scheme, almost 350 pre-war and Victorian houses will be refurbished to demonstrate the benefits of installing environmental technologies.

Residents living in the properties are expected to benefit from energy efficiency savings and the government is hoping the pilot scheme will encourage further low carbon initiatives and boost the area’s building sector.

The ‘Aim High’ project is supported by over £2.1m from the European Regional Development Fund, which is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and match funded by Birmingham City Council and the private sector through the British Gas Community Energy Saving Programme.

The project builds on the council’s investment and commitment to the £100m Birmingham Energy Savers programme, and will also help businesses get involved in the government’s ‘Green Deal’ scheme launched last year.

Communities minister Baroness Hanham said: “The Green Deal, which is set to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties, will only work if we are able to get local businesses ready to take forward new technologies within the property market. Therefore projects such as this are crucial.

“It’s important we are delivering projects that benefit local businesses and also those that make a difference to the local community and its residents. The energy efficient nature of this project will deliver many benefits for local people.”